A Handwoven Cotton Zabuton Cover: Unused Seating Cushion

ca. mid twentieth century
21 3/4" x 20", 52.5 cm x 51 cm 

This off-square pouch of woven cotton is the sham or casing for a zabuton, a traditional Japanese seating cushion.

This particular zabuton cover is of a medium weight cotton and shows a lovely, complex, woven check with a warp-based stripe of kasuri or ikat yarns.  The colors are rich and autumnal: brick reds, dull ochres and a deep, velvety black color decorate this seemingly-unusued zabuton cover.

Please note the occasional and broken basting stitches which are still evident on this lovely, old textile.

A lovely thing.