A Patched Furoshiki: Boro and Katazome

ca. early to mid twentieth century
50" x 50", 127 cm x 127 cm

This is a very handsome everyday textile from old Japan.  It is a good-sized, indigo dyed cotton boro furoshiki or traditional wrapping cloth.

It is hand stitched from four panels of cotton; two of the four corners are stencil resist dyed showing kanji, or Chinese characters.

What gives this furoshiki its appeal is the placement of 8 cotton patches in the center of the cloth, the contrast of value and color with the base cloth is delightful.

Obviously well-used in its day, this cotton cloth shows fading and wear, with some very slight discoloration of the white cotton, but nothing out of the ordinary and nothing that mars one's ability to appreciate the beautiful of this humble cloth.