A Reversible Layered Boro Square: Old Cotton

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
28 1/2" x 26 1/4", 72.5 cm x 66.5 cm

This beautifully patched old boro cloth is hand stitched and is made of hand spun, hand woven indigo dyed cotton--and both its sides are beautiful to look at.

Its square shape is the result of one long, rectangular piece being folded in half and stitched together. The sides are lightly stitched but the horizontal center seam is entirely stitched. The reason for this is unknown, but perhaps this large square was meant to be some kind of seating cloth.

The cotton is old and really lovely as are the patches that are applied to it: its two sides have very different characters but it seems that all the patches are fairly contemporary to the base cloth.

A really nice old boro cloth and one that could be doubled in length if you are adventurous enough to undo the hand stitched center seam.

Beautiful.