A High Volume Cotton Boro Length: Kasuri Stripes and Checks

ca. late nineteenth, early twentieth century
56" x 15 1/2", 142.24 cm x 39 cm

This is length of cotton boro that is unusual for its vibrantly contrasting tones, its bold, clashing patterns, and its rich arrangement of applied patches.

The base length is that of a gorgeously graphic hand woven striped and kasuri cloth, the cloth being divided down the center with the left hand side showing stripes and the right hand side showing a rudimentary warp kasuri, in this case an abstraction of yabane or the traditional arrow feather motif.

To the proper right selvedge is hand stitched lengths of a very interesting, large-scale check pattern, the checks being created from stripes of gradient widths.

The entire boro cloth here is hand stitched from three pieces of cloth and shows about four patches.  

A lovely and unusual length of boro cloth, that affords a surprisingly bold window into old Japan.