A Furoshiki of Heavy Hand Spun Cotton: Three Family Crests

mid to late nineteenth century
43" x 38 1/2", 109 cm x 98 cm

A furoshiki is a traditional Japanese cloth that is used to haul or store objects. Furoshiki are ubiquitous in Japan and are in common use still to this day.

This one is old. It is made of thick, home spun cotton yarns and the cloth is fashioned from three separate panels that are hand stitched together.

Seen on the furoshiki are three dinner plate sized stenciled family crests, this one is the crossed feather crest and it is stenciled in a black dye, perhaps derived from soot or charcoal. The undyed areas of the cloth show wear and show some traces of ingrained dirt: the furoshiki was soaked and washed but this vestige of use has remained. It is lovely.

This is a handsomely designed cloth of strong utilitarian purpose and with its three, softly embedded dark crests there is real artfulness in its layout and presentation.

Really nice.