A Beautifully Constructed Komebukuro: Nice, Old Cottons

early twentieth century
9" x 8" x 8", 23 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm

This kind of piece-constructed, drawstring bag is often referred to as a komebukuro.  Komebukuro are bags that were used to bring token offerings of uncooked rice or beans to a temple or shrine festival, the piecing and patching often being thought-out and planned, for festive effect.

This one is really lovely for its pieced construction which is set on the bias and has a swirling effect.  The separate pieces of cloth are hand stitched to form this bag, the cottons being old and the selection being good in variety of tone, scale and pattern.  Note the sashiko stitched katakana letters to the top of the bag which can be seen on the lead photograph here.

Please do take the time to look at each of the detail photos which accompany this posting; the variety of cottons, their placement and their stitching is extremely well-done, as is the slightly unusual construction.  

A really lovely komebukuro of good size.