A Wonderful Boro Noragi: Patching Inside and Out

early to mid twentieth century
35" x 45", 89 cm x 114.25 cm

This is a really beautiful boro noragi or a patched and mended work coat.  It is one of the rare ones that is equally interesting inside and out, and here we are focusing on the proper outside of the jacket: more often than not, it is the inside of the boro garment that is shown, for it is here that most of the artful repairs are.

This jacket has wonderful repairs on each of its sides.

The indigo dyed cotton which comprised the body of the coat is softened by decades wear: both the hand loomed cloth and the blue color have softened over time, and if you look carefully you can see that the mid section of the jacket is of a darker color than the rest.  Presumably this is where a belt was worn, and the belt protected this area from sun fading.

What is really gorgeous is the slapdash yet artful patching that rings the bottom hemp of the garment on its back and both its sides.  Just gorgeous, both in terms of the placement of the patches as well as the colors of each of them.

Peering inside the coat is another pleasure.  The interior is also patched in similar places, and with almost as many patches as are on the outside.  This noragi can be admired from either of its sides as each is visually appealing.

Boro noragi of this quality and with much age and character are becoming more and more difficult to find.  Please do take time to pore over all the detail photos which amply illustrate many aspects of this very good old textile.

Very recommended.