A Boldly Repaired Sakabukuro: Sake Filter

mid twentieth century
28" x 12 1/2", 71 cm x 31.75 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 bag with its rich, chestnut color, its almost-leathery finish and its wonderfully dramatic mending makes it a particularly good example of a sakabukuro so please have a good look at the  detail photos which accompany this posting.  Note a wide tear to the proper back, top portion of the bag.

A really wonderful sakabukuro, and one of a high quality and attractiveness that is becoming more and more difficult to find.

Recommended.