A Small and Mended Tsunobukuro: Horn Storage Bag

early twentieth century
28 1/4" x 12", 71.5 cm x 30.5 cm

This is a tsunobukuro, or horn bag, so called because of its distinctive appearance: this bag is fashioned from one length of cloth hand sewn on the bias, the result of this construction are two "horns" which appear at the top of the bag.

Tsunobukuro are a kind of collector's piece and are well-regarded by those who collect Japanese folk textiles.

Because the cloth of a tsunobukuro is set on a bias this bag is stretchy and it can accommodate a large volume of rice, grain or beans which it was intended to store.

This marvelous, small-sized and beautifully repaired tsunobukuro is hand woven from well-worn hemp or ramie yarns, the good amount of wear to the bag has softened the cloth which is now pliant. 

The bag is turned inside-out to show the repairs and also to show the wear to the bag: as you can easily see the bottom of the bag is darker in tone than the rest, and this is the result of whatever job the bag had in its--more than likely--long lifetime.

A wonderful little treasure that speaks volumes on the utilitarian fabrics of old Japan.