A Very Unusual Boro Cloth: Old Flour Sack with Spanish Writing

$195.00 USD

early twentieth century
28" x 38 1/2", 71 cm x 97.75 cm

This is a wonderfully unusual boro textile: it is a splayed cotton flour sack which originated in a Spanish-speaking country.  Evidence of this is "Harina de trigo/ alta patente" which is imprinted on what would have been on the proper outside of this cloth.  Just wonderful.

It is obvious that this flour sack, when empty, was taken and re-used in Japan.  The beautiful mending patches add charm the surface of this boro textile, and by looking at them you can see that there is age to these repairs.  The rich, brownish color of the cotton seems to be the result of dipping the bag in kaki shibu or green persimmon tannin.  Kaki shibu strengthens the cloth and also adds a bit of water proofing as well.  The bag was originally machine stitched; the patches are hand sewn.

Enjoy poring over the attached detail photographs of this wonderfully odd and simply beautiful boro cloth.

Recommended.

 

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