Meiji Stripe 1896–97 Wallpaper by CommonRoom Product Ref: FKMS01

Originally a Shin-Bijutsukai woodblock print on paper, this small-scale stripe was most likely intended as a kimono textile design. Its clean rhythm and stylised flora are typical of Meiji textiles of that period where traditional Japanese motifs were combined with bold Western decoration. The natural forms here include bamboo shoots, bound by snowflakes, and Ume ­­­­(Japanese plum blossom). Meiji Stripe is a record of a time when Japanese and Art Nouveau aesthetics profoundly influenced each other following Japan’s reopening to international trade in the 1850s. In this version of a stripe, contrasting backgrounds live respectfully and in harmony, side by side. Shown here in the Meiji colourway.