A Beautifully Patched and Mended Sakabukuro: Sake Filter

$155.00 USD

early to mid twentieth century
28 1/2"" x 10 1/2", 72.5 cm x 26.5 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 is a good example of a sakabukuro and it shows rough patches to the front and back of the bag--very attractive.

A very handsome sakabukuro, and one of a quality that is becoming more and more difficult to find.

Recommended.

Sold