A Cotton and Silk Komebukuro: Recycled Cloth

early to mid twentieth century
as shown: 8" x 8" x 8", 20 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm

This charming draw string bag is hand stitched from a combination of hand loomed and commercially produced cotton, silk and synthetic cloth. Bags of this type are referred to as a komebukuro.

In old Japan, komebukuro, or rice bags, were sewn from scraps of cloth which were configured in an interesting pattern and often made from a variety of contrasting pieces of cloth.  Bags such as this were brought out during festival times and would contain a token amount of dried rice or beans which were placed in the bag and offered to the temple or shrine.

This one is especially nice and eye-catching due to its shocking pink synthetic pieces of cloth in contrast to the subtle cotton and silk pieces, about 15 in all. 

Just lovely, and in good, used condition with one, small, bean-sized hole in the pink cloth near the drawstring.