A Large Hemp Stitched Zokin: Boro Blue-Purple Cottons

ca. early to mid twentieth century
13" x 13 1/2", 33 cm x 34 cm

This zokin is an unintended, artful collage of discarded, Japanese cottons and it seems that there are about two layers of cloth that comprise this one zokin.  Front and back are equally interesting and are sewn from purple/blue dyed, recycled cottons.

Please note this wonderful detail, one that we always look for in old Japanese rural textiles: the stitching done on this zokin uses hemp yarn, which adds a rustic element to the already beautifully unintended artfulness of this everyday cloth.