A Woven Grape Bark Blade Sheath: Rustic Work Gear

early twentieth century
9" x 3 1/2" x 1 1/2", 23 cm x 9 cm x 4 cm

It is understood that this type of beautifully compact small woven vessel was made to sheathe an axe or knife blade.  Its slender form is beautiful in scale with the size of the wild mountain grape bark that was used to weave it.

Mountain grape bark is extremely pliable and in rural Japan it was often woven into baskets and work gear: still, after so many decades, mountain grape bark can be saturated with water and whatever the original form of the vessel, it can be re-shaped or put back to its original form.

The basket itself is relatively flat, or pouch-like and it is easy to imagine a blade slipping into it.  Its long tie is probably made from twined rice straw.

This is a really beautiful, little piece of old Japan, and one that must hold stories of whomever used this vessel in his daily life.

A gorgeous and covetable artifact--you might consider hanging it on the wall and transforming it into a small ikebana vase.

Recommended.