A Sakiori Obi: Rag Woven Sash with Changing Tones

early to mid twentieth century
116" x 7 1/2", 295 cm x 19 cm

This is a lovely, dark-toned sakiori obi, or a rustic, traditional kimono sash that is woven using shredded cloth as its weft yarn.

It appears this obi was woven with leftover rag yarn because the color tone shifts from a flecked brown field at one end to a very subtly variegated grey color for the balance of the obi. This grey field, when seen up close, is surprising rich in multiple tones of muted, dark colored rag yarn.

The warp yarns are black and the weft yarns are as described above; dark, subtle and varied within a very narrow spectrum of tone.

This lovely obi is in good, used condition and the dark and sophisticated color is handsome.

A beautiful, richly toned folk textile.