A Komebukuro: Red Stitching and Sashiko Name

ca. mid twentieth century
9" x 8" x 8", 23 cm x 20.25 cm x 20.25 cm

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 in order to create a celebratory textile that will lend a festive air to the happy event.

This lovely komebukuro is hand stitched from about 18 separate pieces of cotton cloth, mainly a group of checks, plaids and stripes.  What is beautiful about this bag, aside from the density of stripes and plaid cottons that comprise it, are the three lines of red cotton thread that encircle the top portion of the bag, and also the sashiko stitched family name, rendered in white cotton thread.

A really lovely piece with good color and structure, and still in very good condition.