A "Sleeping" Package from the Nineteenth Century: Old Noren in its Original Wrapping

mid nineteenth century
package: 16" x 16" x 1 1/2", 40.5 cm x 40.5 cm x 4 cm
noren: 57 1/2" x 37", 146 cm x 94 cm

This is a rather remarkable surprise, read on. 

It is a tatoushi or a kind of wrapping paper that was used to store kimono, etc., and were used at home and also in pawn shops and other businesses.

This one is proved to be a stunning discovery as it still contained its original contents: a three panel, heavily woven, hand spun cotton noren or door covering.

The writing on the tatoushi says that it is from the late Edo period (1603-1868) so we have to surmise that the noren dates from that time period, as well.

The dark brown toned coloring on the noren is a bit uneven and judging from some signs of wear it seems to have been used, although the apparent wear to the piece could just be from what happens when something has been stored for a century or more.

The wrapper has been fashioned by laminating old ledger books together which makes for a thicker or heavier casing--and as can be easily seen the tatoushi is in one of the typical styles for this kind of hand made wrapper, one with flaps that are easily folded over each other to protect the contents.

This combination of original wrapper and original contents is a rare find and there is something very satisfying about having two pieces of a very large, complex cultural puzzle fit so neatly.

Recommended.