A Lovely Cotton Komebukuro: Swirling Bias Construction

ca. early twentieth century
6 1/2" x 6" x 6", 16.5 cm x 15 cm x 15 cm

This kind of piece-constructed, drawstring bag is often referred to as a komebukuro.  Komebukuro are bags that were used to bring token offerings of uncooked rice or beans to a temple or shrine festival, the piecing and patching often being thought-out and planned, for festive effect.

This one is really lovely for its pieced construction which is set on the bias and has a swirling effect.  There are about 13 separate pieces of cloth which are hand stitched to form this bag, the cottons being old and the selection being lovely.  Note the good, old piece of white-on-blue katazome cloth and the muted, multi-colored hand stenciled cloth which are featured on this bag.

Please do take the time to look at each of the detail photos which accompany this posting; the variety of cottons, their placement and their stitching is extremely well-done, as is the slightly unusual construction.  Note one hole to the indigo dyed katazome fragment.

A really lovely komebukuro of good size.