A Hand Stitched Komebukuro: Commercially Woven Cottons

early to mid twentieth century
11" x 8" x 8", 28 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm

This rustic, well-used and fully lined drawstring bag is hand sewn from about 21 pieces of commercially produced old Japanese cottons, some of which are a type of printed batik.

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 planned, for festive effect.   

Because this bag shows ingrained dirt from wear, a torn bottom panel and a hole to its corner it is not clear if this was only used at festivals--it seems more likely that it was a bag that was used more for every day or utilitarian purposes. A family name is hand written on one of the panels.

The bag has been washed in an attempt to brighten it up but it still shows what must be years of wear or a testament to its life of hard work or usefulness. Its drawstring is original to the bag.

Charming and soulful.