A Pieced Mid-Twentieth Century Hearth Textile: Commercially Made Cottons

mid twentieth century
61" x 60", 155 cm x 152.5 cm

This good-sized blanket-like piece constructed cotton cloth is ether a kotatsugake which is a cover for a traditional brazier or a kotatsushiki which is a cloth laid under the brazier. For the sake of convenience we will refer to it as a kotatsugake.

As the kotatsu (brazier) was placed under a table to provide a heat source in the home, this kind of heavy cloth cover was draped over the table in order to keep the heat contained so a family could sit around it while covering their legs and enjoying some heat.

This boldly pieced and designed kotatsugake is hand stitched from mostly commercially produced, re-used cottons; its backing is cotton flannel. The design is loud in its color and its use of pattern, probably unintentional but a joy to look at. As you can see there is a good amount of sashiko stitching which holds the two layers of the kotatsugake together.

Each side is very different in mood and it is a joy to compare them both in order to determine which is the more favored side.

This every day cloth is simply arranged and visually alluring; it is made of around two layers of cloth--note the amusing mend shown in the detail photo. There is one coin-sized stain that gets lost in the overall scheme.

This piece can be used as a bed cover or throw but you might want to display as art. 

Recommended.