A Rustic Komebukuro: Thickly Braided Drawstring

ca. early to mid twentieth century
10" x 8" x 8", 25.5 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm

This lovely drawstring bag is hand sewn from 14 pieces of hand loomed Japanese cottons.  The cotton drawstring is usually thick and braided, and it is original to the bag.

This kind of piece-constructed, drawstring bag is often referred to as a komebukuro. 

Komebukuro are bags that were used to bring token offerings of uncooked rice or beans to a temple or shrine festival, the piecing and patching often being thought-out and planned, for festive effect.  

A marvelous bag, it is one that shows a really lovely and good range of hand woven cottons, and one that is cleverly patched and pieced.

A real beauty.