A "Reversible" Boro Panel: Wonderful Patches and Twice Dyed Katazome

late nineteenth century
61" x 13", 155 cm x 33 cm

Both sides of this single, indigo dyed cotton panel have real interest.

What should be the public facing side of this fragment of a futon cover is a "twice dyed" blue-on-blue katazome pattern of elaborate arabesques and flowers. On this side of the cloth the handsome, hand spun cotton yarns are very apparent.

The other side is patched almost over its entire area. The patches are solid indigo dyed cotton in various tones of blue--and the patches at the bottom of the cloth have a wonderful diagonal side which is seen in mirrored symmetry.

Overall this length has so much visual appeal and one of the nicest things about it is the marvelous "thread flavor" of the hand spun yarns.

Delightful.