A Length of Reconstructed Kappa: Diagonal Seams and Wedge Shapes

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
68" x 23", 173 cm x 58.5 cm

This tall cloth of good proportions is composed of wedge-shaped pieces of re-purposed, striped cotton cloth.

Because of the diagonal cutting of the cloth which is woven from white stripes on the dark colored ground, the striped pattern is beautifully "broken" due to the way the pieces are stitched together.

The reason for the wedge shaped construction is that these pieces were taken from a kappa, a kind of cape that was introduced to Japan by Portuguese traders.

The color of this piece is a deep warm blue that might read green to some people, and it is shown from the back in order to easily see the unfinished seams and the patching to the piece.

This is a marvelous thing to look at and it is a real hold over from old Japan when traveling capes of the type which yielded this material were in common use.

Wonderful.