Antique Japanese Katagami Textile Stencil with Cranes, Branches, and Handwritten Notes for the cocktail party make it expandable--and then immediately

make it expandable--and then immediately after finding it I found this one

They each measure 2 5/8" tall x 2 1/2" long x 3/8" thick

I believe it might be chalk

I have a hard time passing by an old folk art structure when I can help it

Antique Japanese Katagami Textile Stencil with Cranes, Branches, and Handwritten Notes for the cocktail party make it expandable--and then immediatelyThis is a Japanese "katagami" paper stencil, made of layers of mulberry paper laminated together and treated with kakishibu persimmon tannin that lends durability and water resistence. Paper stencil like this were traditionally used for patterning textiles, especially kimono fabric, using a resist dyeing process called katazome. I am not at all an expert but find them quite beautiful things, and really love the (all handcut) pattern on this one, with