A Boro Komebukuro: Repaired and Patched Drawstring Bag

mid twentieth century
9 1/2" x 8" x 8", 24 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 lovely and rustic drawstring bag is hand sewn from about 20 pieces of both commercially woven and hand loomed, very worn-out, Japanese cottons--some flannel. The assortment of the cloth fragments is varied as is the combination of patterns and textures and as can easily be seen there is some very rough mending to the bag, quite beautiful. From the overall appearance of the bag it is clear this is a country piece made from salvaged materials. Even the drawstring is made from recycled, cotton rag.

A really gorgeous boro komebukuro that has tremendous personality and speaks volumes on recycling in old Japan.

Recommended.