ca. late Nineteenth century/ early Twentieth century
64" x 19", 162 cm x 48.5 cm

The salient feature of this beautifully patched boro textile is the light colored cloth on the right-hand edge of the piece. This lightly and irregularly striped cloth is called zanshi-ori, or cloth that is woven from leftover thread from used spools of yarn. Zanshi cloth produces random passages of color and tone based on the unpredictable feed of yarn from the weft, or in some cases, the warp.

The top portion of this cotton boro piece shows over 9 patches and wonderful mending stitches, the layers and associations of color and patterns is a lovely visual mix.

Note some light staining as well as one prominent, coin-sized black stain to the checked cotton.

A beauty.