A Cotton Komebukuro or Rice Bag: Large Pieces of Cloth
mid twentieth century
12" x 6 1/2" x 6 1/2", 30.5 cm x 16.5 cm x 16.5 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 one is hand stitched of about six pieces of rather large pieces of striped and kasuri cottons--the design of the bag is rather spare due to the fairly big pieces of cloth which are hand stitched to make it. The bag closes with a black cotton drawstring which is seemingly not be original to the bag.
Please do take the time to look at each of the detail photos which accompany this posting in order to enjoy the lovely cloth used to make this rice bag which was seemingly lightly, if ever, used.
A charming komebukuro with a nice, tall shape.