A Length of Beautifully Patched and Woven Cotton: 19th CenturyTozan
$40.00 USD
late nineteenth century
40" x 13 1/2", 101.5 cm x 34 cm
The tightly woven, narrow-striped cotton base cloth for this heavily patched boro length is called tozan, a type of cloth based on an Indian original. Tozan is known for its fine and tight weave and its distinctive stripes; it was produced in India, Europe and also in Japan. This piece is likely from Europe.
About 13 or 14 silk and cotton patches are hand stitched to this 19th century cloth and that they are all assigned to the outer edges of the length is an interesting design, although we know that the patches are placed there for utilitarian reasons.
A wonderful old cloth and a good one for the collector of Japanese textiles.
