A Ball of Decorative Rope: Cotton Covered Bast Fiber Twine

ca. mid twentieth century
as shown: 7", 18 cm diameter

This is a length of cotton covered bast fiber which has been twined in such as way as to become rope: three cords of cotton covered hemp, ramie or another bast strands are twisted together to form this cording.  

Each of the three strands of rope is covered in a different colored cotton: white, deep blue and faded red cotton are the tones of cotton which create this lovely and festive cording.

Most likely this rope was used at a shrine or temple festival: it could have been used for any number of purposes, such as to hang bunting, to cordon off an area, to lead a horse, etc. 

Please see the accompanying detail photos where a cord such as this one is used to hang a decorative cloth at the entrance way to a sub-building at a rustic Shinto shrine.

This length was used hard and it has ingrained dirt from years of wear. 

**Please used this cording as decoration only as it may leave dirt residue upon contact.  This is not recommended for use as body decoration or as a fashion accessory.**