A Sashiko Stitched Mat: Layers, Home Spun Cotton and Kasuri

early twentieth century
22 1/2" x 22 1/2", 57 cm x 57 cm

This good-sized mat is hand sashiko stitched from layers of cloth, the face of which is a very good looking indigo dyed kasuri cotton and whose back is of good quality, hand spun, hand woven indigo dyed cotton.

The weft-based kasuri of the front of the mat shows a repeat pattern of plum blossoms and pine needles: plum blossoms signify courage as they are the first blooms to burst out from under winter's ice while pine needles, since they fall in pairs, mean conjugal fidelity.

The sashiko stitching is strong and beautifully hand done, and the thread used to stitch it is thick and rustic-looking, the kind of old sashiko stitching you want to see on such Japanese folk textiles.

This is a beautiful old folk textile that is versatile in its uses and its visual appeal.

Just lovely.