A Beautifully Faded Zokin: Sashiko Stitching
mid twentieth century
11 3/4" x 13", 30 cm x 33 cm
A zokin is a traditional Japanese dust cloth or cleaning rag; it is usually made from old pieces of cloth and it is usually layered and stitched for durability.
Along with diapers, zokin are among the traditional household textiles that represent the end of the line where the repurposing or recycling of cloth is concerned.
This example shows a beautifully sashiko stitched zokin hand made from a commercially dyed cotton, a few layers thick, which shows a fantastic light fading. This fading, along with the dense sashiko stitching, form the basis of the character and visual interest in this wonderful little dust rag.
Really lovely.