A Cotton Komebukuro: Pieced Drawstring Bag

early twentieth century
7" x 6" x 6", 18 cm x 15 cm x 15 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 rather small-sized drawstring bag is hand sewn from around pieces of re-purposed, old cotton cloth. The assortment of the cloth fragments shows a variety of deeply toned striped and kasuri cottons thus creating undeniable visual interest. On the inside of the bag, on the reinforced top part, there is a hand written label stitched in, ostensibly showing the name of the owner, now illegible from wear.

From the overall appearance of the bag it is clear this is a country piece made from salvaged materials. 

A really handsome komebukuro this one has a rustic personality and speaks volumes on recycling in old Japan. The drawstring may not be original to the bag, however all the loops holding the drawstring are intact.

Recommended--and still quite usable.