A Very Good Indigo Dyed Cotton Komebukuro: Pieced Drawstring Bag

early twentieth century
11" x 9" x 9", 28 cm x 23 cm x 23 cm

This lovely drawstring bag is hand sewn from 11 pieces of hand loomed Japanese cottons.  The cotton drawstring seems original to the bag.

This kind of piece-constructed, drawstring bag is often referred to as a komebukuro. 

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.   

A handsome bag, it is one that shows a good range of hand loomed cottons--it is an object that beautifully recalls the spirit of old Japan.