A Furoshiki Made from Shrine or Temple Dedication Banners: Early Meiji Era

mid nineteenth century
25" x 25", 63.5 cm x 63.5 cm

This is a small, cotton furoshiki that has been hand stitched from several pieces and is noticeably decorated with kanji or Chinese characters.

The source of the pieces which compose this furoshiki is a kind of dedication banner taken from a shrine or temple. It appears it might be related to a wedding. On the center left reads "Osaka, Tagawa Shinzaburo," on the center reads, "Nagoya, Murakami Chojiro." The bottom, left corner reads, "Murakami Suu." 

The multi-directional placement of the kanji is attractive as is the kanji itself. The color of the hand spun, hand woven cotton cloth is derived from vegetable dyes and this one could be suo or sappanwood. 

The furoshiki has been used as can be seen by the creasing of the wear patterns on each of the four corners.

Its history is only hinted at and it is this kind of mystery which is the basis of so much intrigue and interest in these old, folk textiles.