A Very Large Boro Cloth with a Prominent Sashiko Stitched Fragment: Indigo Dyed Cotton

early to mid twentieth century
79" x 64", 200.75 cm x 162.5 cm

In the accompanying photographs it is difficult to convey the very large size of this boro cloth, but it is large enough, probably, to cover a small bed.

It is hand stitched of five separate lengths of indigo dyed cotton cloth.  

The surprising feature on this large cloth is that generously sized piece of sashiko stitched cotton that is applied to the upper, right hand corner of this boro textile: clearly this is a fragment taken from a furoshiki or a traditional wrapping cloth.

The intended purpose of this cloth is unknown: what is curious about it is that on the two top corners of this over-sized boro cloth are two cotton tabs, one on each corner. Presumably this cloth was hung somewhere, maybe as insulation or maybe for privacy.  Who knows?

But pore over the many detail photographs shown here to see so many of the features that make this piece desirable: the large sashiko stitched piece, the resist dyed mon on the cloth's reverse side, the wonderful patching, the beautifully faded indigo dyed cotton and the quirky mending stitches.  All fantastic.

A beautiful thing.

Recommended.