A Cotton Zokin: Edo Komon Katazome
early to mid twentieth century
9" x 12 1/4", 23 cm x 31 cm
A zokin is a traditional Japanese dust cloth or cleaning rag; it is usually made from old pieces of cloth and it is usually layered and stitched for durability.
Along with diapers, zokin are among the traditional household textiles that represent the end of the line where the repurposing or recycling of cloth is concerned.
This ragged-edged zokin is a few layers thick and is made from a wonderful, very small-figured 19th century cloth called Edo komon on one of its sides. The other side shows a very small dark checked cloth. The entire zokin is quilted together in a broad, loose grid with some extra stitches for mending.
A lovely zokin with a very good old Edo komon cotton.