{"product_id":"an-old-semamori-cho-hand-stitched-amulets-to-protect-children","title":"An Old Semamori Cho: Hand Stitched Amulets to Protect Children","description":"\u003cp\u003elate nineteenth century\u003cbr\u003ewhen closed: 3 1\/4\" x 4 1\/4\" x 1\/2\", 8 cm x 11 cm x .75 cm\u003cbr\u003e39 different designs\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn Japan, there is a certain magic associated with stitching: the very act of enclosing a body in cloth is rich in meaning and stitching a garment closed has power in it. It is no wonder that stitches applied to children’s garments are done intentionally and that they are meant to protect the child from harm.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese protective stitches are called \u003cem\u003esemamor\u003c\/em\u003ei, and offered here today is a \u003cem\u003esemamori cho\u003c\/em\u003e, or a practice album of decorative stitches that, when stitched on a child’s garment, would have been held in place one of the kimono’s two ties.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this album there is a total of 39 stitched designs. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are no \"covers\" per se on this book and one of the exposed, outer pages is a bit damaged with some ingrained dirt and loss: its stitched image is that of a willow tree. As well, one of the designs is missing a thread and this can be seen on the final detail photo shown here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe simple, binding stitches of the book have become loose and in part of the book they are gone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut within the book is a treasure trove of stitched \u003cem\u003esemamori,\u003c\/em\u003e some of them inventive or rare as is the case with the geometrically stylized tortoise with a fringe of threads for its tail. Likewise the lead photo with its depiction of a flying crane in motion is unusual and delightful to see.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eObjects such as this are becoming increasingly difficult to find now in Japan and this particular\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003esemamori\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cem\u003echo\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis a small treasure. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45619178668218,"sku":null,"price":465.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/files\/Semamori53e.jpg?v=1771275789","url":"https:\/\/www.srithreads.com\/products\/an-old-semamori-cho-hand-stitched-amulets-to-protect-children","provider":"Sri","version":"1.0","type":"link"}