A Beautifully Mended Sakabukuro: Traditional Sake Filter

early to mid twentieth century
29" x 9 1/2", 73.5 cm x 24 cm

Sakabukuro, or sake straining bags, are beautiful boro textiles. Made of cotton saturated with green persimmon tannin, or kaki shibu, which gives the distinctive brown color, this utilitarian textile was used in sake making.

Crude sake, or sake lees, was placed in this bag and pressure was applied to squeeze out and filter the liquid. Repeated use required repeated mendings and we see the wonderfully odd stitches applied for this purpose.  

This is a wonderful example of a sakabukuro and it shows beautifully rough, overlapping patches to the front and bottom of the bag with mending stitches (and a slight stain) to the back.

A very, very good sakabukuro, and one of a high quality that is becoming more and more difficult to find.

Recommended.