A Crepe Silk Drawstring Bag: Smiling Otafuku

early twentieth century
6" x 8" x 8", 15 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm

This delightful drawstring pouch or kinchaku shows a particularly well-executed pieced silk image on the bottom part of the bag which also shows a good deal of intricately hand placed details, especially on the pink folding fan.

Note the pieces of silk which are expertly stitched together to create the charming image we see here. Much skill, time, thought and planning went into the construction of this cloth picture which is done in a technique called Oshi-e.

The image is that of one of Japan's popular personalities, that of Otafuku, who is considered to embody the attributes of happiness and fortune as well as being the ideal wife.  We see her depicted here as she usually is with a mirthful smile, chubby cheeks and a general sense of buoyancy of mood.

The background of the image is chirimen or crepe silk dyed a deep purple tone.

Around the sides of the bag are two lavishly made peacocks and what appear to be camellias, all of these images are beautifully detailed with hand painting. 

The lining of cotton is recycled and was taken from a bag stamped "Tokio Calico, Tokio Japan"

These type of kinchaku are generally charming and this one is no exception: it is enhanced by the good amount of hand painted details and for the nice, pieced silk images.

Wonderful.