A Large Repaired Hemp Boro Cloth: Rice Cleaning Cloth

ca. mid twentieth century
65" x 33 1/2", 165 cm x 85 cm

This is a quite large piece of hemp cloth, the fibers of which are thick, undyed and wiry--and the weaving is loose and mesh-like.

Hemp cloth such as this one, it seems, were used to rinse rice during the sake making process, hence the open weave which allowed the rice to be rinsed and the water to run off the newly-cleaned rice.

This mesh piece is repaired with four patches and an area of stitching: although this cloth appears not to have been used (since it is not discolored nor does it look worn) most likely it was mended in preparation for it to be used, which it may never have been.

The patching and mending are just lovely, and were this to be used in the home there are many applications.  Or, it could be hung on wall and admired as artwork: certainly it has visual appeal.