A Large and Gorgeous Furoshiki: Soft Heavy Cotton and Beautiful Patching
ca. late nineteenth, early twentieth century
52" x 48", 132 cm x 122 cm
This large furoshiki or traditional wrapping cloth is really, really beautiful--much more so in person than can be seen in the accompanying photos, the reason being that so much of the appeal is textural: the cotton cloth is heavy and tightly woven, but somehow lightweight, and the faded warm blue/green is just lovely on the eye.
The condition is also really marvelous as can be seen here: the surface has a beautiful, overall light fading, it is devoid of stains, and the patching is marvelous in its color and placement.
Add to that, the centrally placed square of cotton cloth--a type of reinforcement to this carrying cloth--is also free of stains or tears and, remarkably, all its dark blue stitching is intact.
In the top, left corner of the piece is a resist dyed, stylized floral form, in this case the hanabishi or diamond-floral, a popular heraldic motif and in this case, probably a family crest or kamon which serves to identify the owner of this cloth.
Simply beautiful, and recommended.