Chiyogami

These wonderfully decorative patterns on paper, known as Chiyogami, are silkscreened onto machine made sheets of mixed kozo and sulphite.  They are more popularly known as Yuzen in the United States.  

Chiyogami designs were developed in the Edo period as woodblock prints by papermakers for use as accessories in the house to enliven the interiors. They were based on the bright kimono textiles which the the papermakers from the countryside saw on the fashionable wealthy ladies in the larger cities, especially Kyoto.  Chiyogami papers have striking pigment colors, careful registration of screens, and a wide range of designs making them ideal for picture mats, books and box making.