A Beautifully Woven Length of Sakiori: Rag Weave

ca. mid twentieth century
68" x 13 1/4", 172.75 cm x 33.5 cm 

This is a really gorgeous length of sakiori, a kind of weaving that uses shredded cloth for its weft yarn; sakioriis rag weave.

The regularly set warp yarns are white cotton.  The weft is cotton rag and the variegated colors of the weft seem randomly fed against the warp, creating a lovely progression of color up the length of the cloth.

This wide, thickly woven and slubby cloth is beautiful in the hand and is also beautifully textured.  The proper, back (not pictured) shows evidence of wear with a bit of overall, ingrained dirt from years of use.  The two short ends are loosely unravelled.

Most likely this sakiori panel is taken from a kotatsugake or hearth cover.