An Oversized Drawstring Bag: Pieced Old Cottons and Mending

early twentieth century
as shown: 16" x 16" x 16", 40.5 cm x 40.5 cm x 40.5 cm

This is a very large or oversized hand stitched drawstring bag, sometimes referred to as a komebukuro or "rice bag" since similar types were used to carry offerings of dried rice or beans to temple or shrine festivals.

This particular piece was probably not a komebukuro but more than likely it is  a bag intended to have been used every day for practical purposes.

It is composed of about 20 or so individual pieces of hand woven cotton cloth in mainly subtle color tones tones with the exception of two light-toned striped pieces that can easily be seen on the photos here. More than likely all these cotton pieces were taken from kimono and if you look closely you will see small patches to the surface which add visual interest. The bag is fully lined in undyed cotton cloth

The cotton drawstring is slipped through a series of loops of string and the drawstring seems original to the bag.

A beautifully unusual thing for its good size, for its age and for the wonderful combination of cottons used to create this bag--and do not overlook the nice mends which can be seen on the accompanying photographs.

Recommended.