A Rustic and Beautifully Stitched Boro Textile: Two Patched Indigo Panels

ca. late nineteenth, early twentieth century
72" x 25", 183 cm x 63.5 cm

This beautifully old and wonderfully repaired two panel, indigo dyed boro panel was likely taken from a larger piece, a futon cover. 

The blue-on-blue tones are rich, as is the age and the hand loomed quality of the faded, indigo dyed cotton.  But what makes this rustic fragment from a futon cover most alluring and visually interesting is its patching and stitching, which are intense and eccentric.

The patches, about twelve in all, are hand stitched to the base cloth using long, quick, white cotton sashiko threads.  In one case, the white stitching is done in a kind of zigzag as it attempts to join two long patches.  Centrally placed are two, oddly-shaped patches, each one slightly curved, and these two patches add a graphic appeal to the overall, already-intensely rustic flavor of this good, old boro.

A really wonderful piece with great character.

Recommended.