A Hemp or Ramie Komebukuro: Amazingly Pieced and Safflower Dyed Details

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
7 1/2" x 9" x 9", 19 cm x 23 cm x 23 cm

This hemp or ramie piece-constructed decorative bag is extraordinary in every way.  

Just looking at its complex design is enough: the safflower dyed (reddish pink) linear details that create a large-scale design of stylized pine bark is beautifully conceived and realized.  Each of the pieces used to stitch this bag has been backed with paper before it was stitched together. This is evident when handling the bag, feeling the surface of it and listening to the sound it makes when handled.

But then consider that the indigo dyed kasuri, Omi jofu cloth shapes are actually stitched and embedded in between these jagged, linear demarcations. Omi jofu an extremely fine grade of hemp or ramie cloth made in Omi, present-day Shiga prefecture and it is considered one of the finest grade bast fiber textiles woven in Japan.

The bottom shows a wonderful surprise, a pieced constructed design whose center is a safflower dyed pentagon shape in the center of the hexagon shape of the bag.

All of this is simply wonderful.  More wonderful is the condition of this bag which seems not have been used hard, if it was used at all. It is fairly pristine with no stains, holes or serious abrasion.

This is quite a treasure: it is an extremely fancy bag which shows an amazing amount of design and execution skill using precious materials.

Simply remarkable and covetable.

Very recommended.