Traditional Japanese Stencil Designs (Dover Pictorial Archive Series) (Paperback)

~ Clarence Hornung (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Versatile collection of 276 exquisite Japanese stencil designs—clouds, birds, butterflies, bamboo, plum and cherry blossoms, geometrics, more. Copyright-free illustrations are ideal for modern decorative and graphic needs—fabric, wallpaper and textile designs, calendars, menus, woodblock printing, needlecrafts, etc. 276 black-and-white illustrations. Introduction.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (January 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486247910
• ISBN-13: 978-0486247915
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #134,966 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #42 in

  Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Graphic Design > Clip Art

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the very best of Japanese textile graphics, June 2, 2003

By	Merrily Baird (atlanta, ga USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a previous reviewer has noted, Clarence Hornung's "Traditional Japanese Stencil Designs" is not the book to purchase if you are seeking inspiration for tattoos. It is, however, of exceptional value if your interests include Japanese aesthetics in general and textile motifs in particular or if you are seeking sophisticated patterns that can be manipulated and reproduced as graphic designs.

The stencils included were originally designed for monochromatic printing on cotton textiles but are also typical of the patterns imprinted on deer-skin goods and traditional Japanese wrapping papers. More than any other volume in Dover's generously-sized library of books on Japanese design, Hornung's testifies to the Japanese genius for manipulating a few design elements into subtle and classically beautiful patterns. Some of the patterns are abstract and without specific meaning, but the overwhelming majority are rich in symbolism. Hornung's introduction discusses the most important of these symbolic meanings. However, the usefulness of the introduction is compromised by his failure to number the stencils and then identify for the reader precisely which plates represent each thematic motif.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Design book based on complex tradition, July 12, 2006

By	Amy R. Bradley "amybeader" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Unlike the first reviewer who gave this book 1 star, this is actually an excellent book showing designs taken from one of the many complex arts and crafts traditions of Japan. These are actual designs from stencils, which were carefully cut from mulberry paper and used for printing designs on cloth.The stencils are called katagami. Some of these are still being made, and by the fine traditional craftsmen of Japan working with simple, traditional tools to produce amazing patterns. The first reviewer has not bothered to look carefully into Japanese art forms, and so is, I believe speaking from ignorance. Not a book for tatoo designs, granted, but I think most people who would like design references from a somewhat obscure Japanese art tradition would find this book of interest. If you'd like more detail on the art tradition of stencil cutting or carving, you might want to look at
"Carved Paper: The Art of the Japanese Stencil." You can also see an example with some explanations here: http://www.sohe.wisc.edu/depts/hlatc/pixelsexhibit/katagami.html
Although these stencils were/are made for the purpose of dyeing cloth, they can be considered artforms in their own right. (I own a couple of these.) The Dover book is a nice reference.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the classics, December 12, 2008

By	A. Burroff "amberkitty" (Brooklyn) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

All you need to embelish or add to any original art, pottery or clothing stencil.