An Old Recycled Wrapping Paper: Late Meiji

$115.00 USD

early twentieth century
28 1/2" x 30", 72.5 cm x 76 cm

This is a square-shaped paper wrapper whose front side has been created by gluing together recycled sheets of used mulberry paper which were recycled from from handwritten accounting books or ledgers.

Its back side contains large areas of old newspaper which date from around 1910-1914 or the end of the Meiji era and the very first years of the fairly short Taisho era.

This paper referred to as a tatoushi was used to wrap kimono at a shop. There is evidence of this from the central "diamond" shape of creasing and wear which is slightly noticeable when viewed from a certain angle and can be seen on the lead photograph here.

The arbitrary construction of this tatoushi is subtle and beautiful. As can easily be seen some of the fragments used to reinforce the back of the wrapping paper have pulled away from the base.

Please note the missing corner and the few slits or tears to the body of the paper all of which are detailed on the accompanying photos.

A wonderful, good-looking old tatoushi.

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