A Reconfigured Tsutsugaki Furoshiki: Oak Leaves

early twentieth century
56" x 53 1/2", 142 cm x 146 cm

This is a tsutsugaki dyed, indigo cotton furoshiki, a furoshiki being a traditional Japanese carrying cloth.

This particular one is hand stitched from four panels of hand woven cotton. The cotton is woven tight so the cloth is sturdy.

Clearly this furoshiki was reconfigured and assembled from an already-existing finished textile, in this case it seems it was a yutan or a furniture cover.

The sideways placement of the resisted image, the oak leaves family crest, attests that the furoshiki was once another type of cloth.

Stitched to the back corner of the cloth is a hand written note stating the name of the owner of this furoshiki and that the owner is from Kurashiki a city in Western Japan, in Okayama prefecture.

Note overall, normal wear to the piece which is consistent with its age.

Lovely.