A Beautifully Reversible Boro Panel: Thickly Layered and Stitched

early to mid twentieth century
58 1/2" x 13 1/4", 148.5 cm x 33.5 cm

This thickly layered, very sashiko stitched length of boro cotton is wildly attractive--and equally beautiful front and back: the question is: which side is more interesting?

The length is hand stitched from three layers of re-purposed cotton cloth.  Shown in the lead photos here is one of the two beautiful sides of the panel.  This side shows a large, red colored cotton patch on a field of blue cotton.  Because this side of the length is simple in color, the strong, thick black sashiko stitches that quilt the three layers together are very evident.  This is a beautiful detail.

The other side is a fine and complex, hand stitched collage of a variety of old, striped and plaid cottons; the play of stripe against stripe against plaid is visually fascinating, as can be seen in the accompanying detail photographs.

In poring over the photos here and comparing one side to the other, it is difficult to determine which is the preferred side as both are so attractive.

A wonderful, covetable boro length with great visual allure.

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