A Nicely Mended Sakabukuro: Traditional Sake Filter

early to mid twentieth century
30 1/2" x 10", 77.5 cm x 25.5 cm

Sakabukuro, or sake straining bags, are beautiful boro textiles. Made of cotton which is saturated with green persimmon tannin, or kaki shibu--which gives the distinctive brown color--this utilitarian textile was used in sake making.

Crude sake, or sake lees, was placed in this bag and pressure was applied to squeeze out and filter the liquid. Repeated use required repeated mending and we see the wonderful stitches applied for this purpose.  

This is a nice example of a sakabukuro and it shows beautiful mending in the form of a strong stitches done in thick thread. There are two, small areas of loss due to insect damage on the reverse side, but otherwise the strong stitching--and a good amount of it--is notable.

This is a handsome sakabukuro with very attractive, complex mending.