A Very Large Piece Constructed Drawstring Bag: Yamagata Prefecture

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
10 1/2" x 15" x 15", 26.5 cm x 38 cm x 38 cm

This is a very large or oversized hand stitched drawstring bag, sometimes referred to as a komebukuro or "rice bag" since similar, smaller types were used to carry offerings of dried rice or beans to temple or shrine festivals.

This particular piece was probably not a komebukuro but more than likely it is  a bag intended to have been used every day for practical purposes.

It is composed of almost 30 or so individual pieces of hand woven cotton cloth.

Most of the cloth is subtle or somber in color and tone, however these pieces are foiled by bold, katazome patterns and, in the case of the grey toned figured katazome cloth, this particular one no doubt dates to the mid nineteenth century.

The cloth on the bag no doubt dates from the Meiji era (1868-1912) however the bag may have been hand stitched a bit later.

It was found in the Shonai region of Yamagata prefecture.

The hefty drawstring is slipped through a series of loops of string and the drawstring seems original to the bag.

A beautifully unusual thing for its good size, for its age and for the wonderful combination of cottons used to create this bag--and do not overlook the bottom of the bag which is intricately pieced of many small fragments.

Recommended.

Just wonderful for its variety of cloth and its large size.