December, 1909 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
219 
The Japanese stencil’s great advantage lies in the network of 
fine wires or hair, making unnecessary the usual bridges 
A stencil showing a decorative design of fern fronds. 
The cost ranges from a few cents to $4 or $5 
of a screen, has for its motive the crest of a wave curl¬ 
ing backwards, with foam dashing around it. The slender 
shoots of the bamboo are a frequent inspiration, as their long 
lines lend themselves well to stencil effects. The fern frond 
design is another that possesses special interest. It is among 
the oldest, and the network is damaged by time and use. 
The delicate interlaced pattern with a leaf as motive is 
another fine specimen, and has the amazing inevitableness 
of line and spot that the Japanese know how to secure. The 
simpler patterns contain, perhaps, a group of circular forms 
that represent snow crystals to the initiated Japanese eye; 
or a cloud pattern; or a combination of squares or plaids. 
In addition to their historical and intrinsic interest these sten¬ 
cils are being used for the decoration of curtains, portieres, table- 
covers and other fabrics. Some of the stencils are themselves 
used as window decorations. The light shining through the open 
spaces of the pattern gives an unusual and striking effect. Others 
are used as wall pictures. Stenciled on fabrics or used as decora¬ 
tive features in themselves, they are suggestive of the per¬ 
fection attained by a people evolutionally centuries younger 
than ourselves, but considered by many craftsmen to be our peers 
in art. 
This design of wild geese flying through pine trees is one of the most decorative of the Japanese stencils 
