A Patched Kasuri Furoshiki: Mended Ikat Carrying Cloth

mid twentieth century
41" x 39", 104 cm x 99 cm

This is a good sized, kasuri or ikat woven cotton furoshiki, a furoshiki being a wrapping/carrying/storage cloth which was ubiquitous in old Japan.    This one is of nice cotton and it is hand stitched from three panels of cloth.  The kasuri design is in the warp yarns and is vertically oriented; the colors are a dark brown, grey, ochre and a bit of blue.

The wrapping cloth is mended with three dark colored patches at the center of the cloth; the patches are machine stitched to the kasuri base cloth.

In good, used condition, this handsome cotton cloth is still in fine shape and can be applied to many uses in the home or in craft or art projects.

A lovely, subtle thing.