A Hand Pieced, Hand Stitched Drawstring Bag: Shown Inside-Out

early to mid twentieth century
12" x 9" x 9", 30.5 cm x 23 cm x 23 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 placed in a manner so as to create a celebratory textile that will lend a festive air to the happy event.

This good sized bag may not have been used for this purpose, however, but it is wonderful for its good age and for its wonderful piecing and patching. The bag is shown inside-out for the purpose of highlighting the seams and the patches.

About a dozen pieces of old cotton cloth have been hand stitched on the bias to create this large, drawstring bag.  The cord, still intact, seems original to the bag.

A really beautiful bag for its age and size--and for the marvelously rustic hand stitching and piecing--this bag recalls every day life in old Japan.

Please note one hole to the bag shown in detail here.

Wonderful for its good size and its lively patching.