A Good Sized Komebukuro: Drawstring Recycled Cotton Bag

early twentieth century
13" x 8" x 8", 33 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm

This kind of piece-constructed, drawstring bag is 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 good sized bag is hand stitched of about 7 large pieces of two types of striped cotton mixed with indigo dyed kasuri cotton. The bag closes with a drawstring which seems original to the bag.

The overall effect is handsome and the choice of cloth used to create this komebukuro is well-selected.

A really lovely komebukuro of good size.