A Colorful Komebukuro: Commercial Cottons
ca. mid to late twentieth century
10" x 8" x 8", 25.5 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm
This lovely drawstring bag is hand sewn from six pieces of commercially produced Japanese cottons, many of which are printed with flower motifs.
The bag is of a nice size and the cotton is in good condition The cotton drawstring seems original to the bag.
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 particular bag may or may not be this kind of bag--it may have
been intended to be used as an "everyday" or utilitarian bag--but its
appeal is instant and it is a really lovely thing.
