A Tiny Cotton Komebukuro: Rough Surface

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
3 1/2" x 3 1/2" x 3 1/2", 9 cm x 9 cm x 9 cm

This kind of piece-constructed, drawstring bag is often referred to as a komebukuro--and this grapefruit-sized piece shows good age and a fair amount of wear.

Komebukuro are bags that were used to bring token offerings of uncooked rice or beans to a temple or shrine festival, the piecing and patching often being thought-out and planned, for festive effect. 

This small-sized drawstring bag is hand sewn from around 8 pieces of re-purposed, old cotton cloth. The assortment of the cloth fragments shows a variety of deeply toned cottons thus creating a murky type of color overall

From the overall appearance of the bag it is clear this is a country piece made from salvaged materials. 

A tattered and worn komebukuro, this one has a rustic personality and speaks volumes on recycling in old Japan. The drawstring seems original to the bag, and all the loops holding the drawstring are intact.