A Patched and Mended Furoshiki: Resist Dyed

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
38 1/2" x 38", 98 cm x 96.5 cm

This is a pieced and patched, indigo dyed cotton furoshiki that bears a resist dyed kanji or Chinese character in its upper left hand corner.  A furoshiki is a traditional, square shaped cloth that is still very much in use in Japan for the storage, carrying and hauling of things.

This one seems to have been cobbled together from pieces of old indigo dyed cotton and it was used hard.

There is a wonderful arrangement of patching seen clearly on the back of the piece, please have a look at the detail photos which are presented here to see this feature of this old cloth.

The furoshiki has been used hard and bears the marks of a life of service and use--the hand spun cotton yarns and the natural indigo dyes when married to the piecing and lush patching of this textile make for a wonderful thing to own, and something that recalls everyday life in old Japan.

Wonderful.