An Oversized Piece-Constructed Cotton Bag: Recycled Antique Cloth

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
16" x 13" x 13", 41 cm x 33 cm x 33 cm

This is a very large, hand stitched drawstring bag, sometimes referred to as a komebukuro or "rice bag" since similar 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 about 17 or so individual pieces of hand woven cotton cloth is deep, almost-neutral color tones; more than likely all these pieces were taken from kimono. The sturdy and thick twined cotton drawstring is slipped through a series of loops of string and the drawstring seems original to the bag.

A beautiful 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 nice mend which can be seen on the accompanying photograph.

Recommended.