A Beautifully Weathered Tsutsugaki Horse Trapping: Hand Spun Cotton

late nineteenth century
92" x 11 1/2", 234 cm x 29 cm

This richly decorated, heavily worn and beautifully faded long, lined cloth is a traditional horse trapping, one that would have been used to dress a horse for special occasions and festivals.

The indigo dyed tsutsugaki design is nicely conceived, shows fans, kanji or Chinese characters and interlocking circles at the bottom of both ends. The hand spun cotton is quite obvious because of the light fading and the soft, all-over wear to the piece.

The mending to the piece is charming because it hints at the wear this piece received and we can imagine it was used for several consecutive decades. Imagine all the festivals this textile attended.

The lining of hand spun cotton, as well, shows traces of this heavy use and this kind of vestige of the past does something to our appreciation of a thing.

The playfulness of the presentation of the pattern is a lovely thing to look at and the good age of the piece enhances our intrinsic enjoyment of it. 

This is marvelous. Horse trappings are collectible in Japan and abroad and this rustic one is one to consider.

Recommended.