ca. late nineteenth century
58" x 19 1/2", 147 cm x 49.5 cm

What a stunning, boro cloth, a fragment taken from a futon cover.

This piece is created from tsumugi silk, a kind of home spun, lightweight "raw" or roughly processed silk with a beautifully irregular grain.

This fabulous, two panel fragment bears 17 mending patches--all affixed with silk thread.  The oversized, kamon, or family crest, is stylized ivy.  This is surrounded by large-scale karakusa or a traditional trailing vine motif.

The color is a beautifully faded blue/green, the silk is wispy and delicate.

This boro cloth is elegant, sophisticate and just smashingly attractive--and a great addition to a collection of cotton boro or other folk textiles.

Very highly recommended.