ca. early to mid Twentieth century
56" x 55", 142.5 cm x 140 cm

This boro futonji, or mended futon cover is fashioned from a happi coat which has been deconstructed and re-formed to create this bedcover. Wonderfully animated with the complex geometry of stylized kanji, or Chinese characters, the happi coat which gave us this futonji is created using the tsutsugaki resist method of indigo dyeing.

A happi coat was worn by a worker to advertise the establishment where he worked, or it could have been worn by a participant at a matsuri, or a local Shinto festival, which ceremonial, festive garments are de rigueur for those involved.

Recommended.