A Long Boro of Happi Coats: Vermilion Details

ca. late nineteenth, early twentieth century
69" x 13 1/4", 175 cm x 33.5 cm

This is really lovely, eye-catching and exuberant in its design, coloration and presentation.

This long, boro cloth is stitched from two pieces and shows nine individual patches.  As is very evident, this length was taken from a happi or a hanten, a resist dyed work or festival jacket which is always of a very easily identifiable design.

As was customary in old Japan, cloth was recycled and repurposed.  In this case, a happi was opened up and taken apart, and it was refashioned as a futon cover, this being one panel from a larger piece.  The vermilion passages are a mineral based colorant that was applied to the cotton through a stencil after it was resist dyed, the resisted areas showing white.  This length shows about 5 or so small holes.

The sheer variety of patches as they sit on this lovely base cloth is a visual delight.

This wonderful cloth is very recommended.