A Good-Sized Boro Futon Cover: Large Scale Cotton Kasuri

early to mid twentieth century
67" x 51", 170 cm x 129.5 cm

This is a futon cover which is hand stitched from a smattering of pieces of kasuri cotton that show a large scale pattern of abstract forms and pine needles.

The patterned, kasuri patches that are applied to the fractured, figured ground are visually cacophonous in the jarring way they relate to the pieces around them.

This futon cover was no doubt created by recycling well-worn garments: clothing with cloth showing large scale patterns were worn in the early to mid twentieth century and it makes sense that garments would have been re-purposed to create bedding as is the case here.

And for being a humble cloth meant for every day use in the home its visual complexity and sophistication of pattern mixing is a wonderful surprise that we can now enjoy.

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