ca. early to mid twentieth century
12" x 12", 30 cm x 30 cm

This small, strange cloth is a total mystery: why was it made, and for what purpose? We will never know, but clearly the tabs were meant to be tied, making a kind of cylindrical form when tied closed.

The green cotton fabric was popular in the early to mid twentieth century in Japan: furoshiki or carrying cloths, and the like, were commonly created from this same type of resist dyed cotton. It shows the trailing vine, or karakusa, motif, again, another very popular motif which came to Japan from China, probably by way of Persia and the Middle East.

Pay special attention to the central curlicue where tiny writing in ink follows the curve of the trailing vine.

Completely weird and wonderful.