A Very Large Cotton Furoshiki: Printed Cloth from the 1930s

early to mid twentieth century
65" x 75", 165 cm x 190.5 cm

This is a very large, hand stitched, six-panel furoshiki that is made of lightweight, commercially produced cotton whose designs and patterns belong very much to the late 1920s and the 1930s or the beginning of the Showa era (1926 - 1989) in Japan. It is during this era, of course, when Japan was warring with the world.

The patterns used on this large cloth are typical of those produced during the early Showa era and many of the patterns made then were concerned with showing the support of the wars Japan was engaged in; these are more benign as they picture children's toys, traditional motifs of samurai helmets, lanterns and parasols, chrysanthemums, peonies and mythical lion dogs.

There are six patterns in total represented here.

The lightweight cotton is odd for a furoshiki which is usually made of tougher stuff so it can be put to hard work. Since the cloth here is too lightweight to pack and haul things it can be presumed that this was meant to cover items in the home or in a shop or perhaps to gently fold over stacks of things that needed cover.

In any case this is a wonderful opportunity to own such a large piece of such particular cloth in relatively good condition--there is one small hole to the bottom shown in detail photos here.

Charming, spirited and coming from an dynamic period in Japan's past this is a large cloth that holds endless possibilities for use in the home, to hang as art or to repurpose into fashion or art projects.

Recommended.