A Kaki Shibu Infused Sakabukuro: Soft Cotton
ca. mid twentieth century
28" x 9 3/4", 71 cm x 24.5 cm
Sakabukuro, or sake straining bags, are very collectible boro textiles. Made of cotton saturated with green persimmon tannin, or kaki shibu, which gives the distinctive brown color, this utilitarian textile was used in sake making.
Crude sake, or sake lees, was placed in this bag and pressure was
applied to squeeze out and filter the liquid. Repeated use required
repeated mending and on this bag we see three hand applied patches for
this purpose.
This handsome bag is entirely hand stitched of cotton which has been lightly dipped in green persimmon tannin or kaki shibu.
As seen here, the bag is turned inside-out, so its seams, stitching
and patching are quite obvious--note the interesting, triangle of
sashiko stitching, shown on the accompanying detail photograph. The
cotton is soft and pliable to the touch.
