A Beautifully Simple Indigo Dyed Boro Panel: Hand Spun Cotton Yarn

late nineteenth century
71" x 19 1/2", 180.5 cm x 46.5 cm

Ito aji, or thread flavor, the wonderful textural quality that is emblematic of hand spun, old cotton yarns, is one of the most prized characteristics of old Japanese cloth. Because this indigo dyed cotton boro cloth is woven from hand spun cotton, it is rich in this ito aji.  

The hand loomed cotton, being rustic, feels great in the hand and is of a beautiful, indigo blue color.  Because this cloth is of 1 1/2 loom widths, it is likely that this was taken from a yogi or a sleeping kimono where an extra 1/2 loom width cloth is inserted to allow for a large sized textile.

At its thickest there are two layers of cloth on this patched, old textile which shows about 13 patches in total.

A beautiful, rustic piece of old boro cotton.

Recommended for its age and its great threads.