A History of Tufted Rugs

Prototype. Chapter text drafted from the research notes and not yet checked at the archives. Images awaiting permission are marked.

Sakai dantsu (1831), and the "dantsu king" who went to America

Research finding · not yet checked at the source

Date
1831
Collection
Tuft the World research brief: The Non-English Record
Publisher
City of Sakai (堺市) cultural-properties page
Themes
Global diffusion of tufting, Woven carpet

Cite this source

“Sakai dantsu (1831), and the ‘dantsu king’ who went to America.” Research note, Tuft the World research brief: The Non-English Record. city.sakai.lg.jp/kanko/rekishi/bunkazai/bunkazai/shokai/bunya/minzoku/teoridantsu.html.

Research notes

Grandson 藤本荘太郎, the 緞通王 ("dantsu king"), 「渡米して海外への普及に努めた」 travelled to America to spread it abroad, seventy years before the tufting machine came the other way. Citation check (Oct 2026, from search results; pages not opened): confirmed. None. The same city page contains '庄左衛門の孫で「緞通王」とよばれた藤本荘太郎が技術改良を加え、渡米して海外への普及に努めた', and says Meiji-era exports flourished. 'Seventy years before the tufting machine' is the brief's own arithmetic. Source: 堺式手織緞通 (Sakai-style hand-woven dantsu) – 堺市 (City of Sakai) cultural-properties page. Found at: https://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/kanko/rekishi/bunkazai/bunkazai/shokai/bunya/minzoku/teoridantsu.html Also: https://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/kanko/hakubutsukan/exhibition/kikaku_tokubetsu/kako/73723620210618132442783.html