ca. early to mid twentieth century
52" x 59", 132 cm x 150 cm

This marvelous boro textile bears the history of years--maybe decades--of use. Most like this thickly layered, very sashiko stitched textile was used as a cover for the family heater, a brazier called a kotatsu; thick fabrics such as this were laid on top of the brazier so the family could gather around it, slip the legs underneath and stay warm.  

Looking closely at this boro textile, it shows that the original kotasushiki or kotatsugake was made of layers of discarded and re-used indigo dyed cotton, including some examples of zanshi, or cloth woven from leftover threads.  Looking further, it can be seen that pale blue cotton threads were used to do the stitching.

The bold and graphic visual appeal lies with the light-colored, applied cotton patches which predominate the "design."  These patches seem to have been the last ones applied, and one is to guess that they were applied quite a long time after the actual kotasushiki was originally made.

This is a thick and heavy boro piece, and we think it has "wow" factor.  It is as visually beautiful as it is soulful, the soulfulness coming from its obviously long life, the history it bears and those long-forgotten souls who were kept warm by it.

Very recommended.