A Stitched Sakabukuro: Wonderful Stitching and Patina

early to mid twentieth century
32" x 11 3/4", 81.25 cm x 30 cm

Sakabukuro, or sake straining bags, are beautiful boro textiles. Made of cotton saturated with green persimmon tannin, or kaki shibu, which gives the distinctive brown color, this utilitarian textile was used in sake making.

Crude sake, or sake lees, was placed in this bag and pressure was applied to squeeze out and filter the liquid. Repeated use required repeated mendings and we see the wonderfully odd stitches applied for this purpose.  

This bag with its rich chestnut color and its wonderful mending makes it a particularly good example of a sakabukuro so please have a good look at the detail photos which accompany this posting.

Note the gorgeous mending stitches clustered in a cloud in the top zone of the bag.  Note as well the worm hole which pierces both front and back of the bag--as well, there is a short tear to the top, proper left side crease of the bag.

A really wonderful  sakabukuro,  and one of a high quality and attractiveness that is becoming more and more difficult to find.

Recommended.