A Long Indigo Dyed Cotton Boro Panel: Hand Spun Yarns
early twentieth century
78" x 13", 198 cm x 33 cm
This is a good-sized length of indigo dyed boro cotton that has been created from three separate length which are hand stitched together.
It is a very handsome length of patched and repaired boro cotton which is desirable not just for its subtle aesthetic beauty, but maybe more so for the fact that all the cloth is hand woven from hand spun cotton.
When looking at old Japanese folk textiles, you want to find hand spun cotton cloth because it contains ito aji or "thread flavor" and this indicates the cloth is old and made in the home.
This particular length shows gradient tones of indigo and good patching, some of which is loosely applied to the surface, most indicated by the top, central patch which is not completely stitched to the base.
The boro cotton has a very good feel in the hand due to the hand spun yarns which composes it and if one were to apply functions to this piece, it could as easily be admired as art as it would be to use it as a home accessory or maybe even a scarf which receives light wear.
Just beautiful.