A Sashiko Stitched Furoshiki: Plaid Kasuri Base Cloth and Fanciful Embroidery

samid twentieth century
57" x 50", 145 cm x 127 cm

This is a furoshiki, a furoshiki being a traditional Japanese cloth used for the wrapping, storing and hauling of goods. Furoshiki are still very much used in Japan today.

This particular one is made of a lovely plaid, kasuri cotton. The base color is a black/indigo tone and the pattern could be said to be variations on the traditional well cover motif.

There is a hole on the furoshiki, around the 3 o'clock mark, and by looking at the last detail photo here you will see that a piece of old indigo dyed cotton will be included with the furoshiki--this is so you can back or mend the hole so it is not distracting.

The corners of the furoshiki are elaborately sashiko stitched. The upper right and lower left hand corners are stitched in decorative floral motif, perhaps a wild invention on the theme of the chrysanthemum. The upper left and lower right corners are stitched in a design that is based on the folding fan, a Japanese invention.

The furoshiki retains its "tails" to each of the four corners of the cloth, a very nice detail.

The appearance of the stitching as it is overlaid onto the design of the base cloth is so nice to see, and this--as well as the good size of the furoshiki--make this a desirable piece.