A Leathery Sakabukuro: Mended Sake Filter

early twentieth century
29" x 10", 73.5 x 25.5 cm

Sakabukuro, or sake straining bags, are beautiful boro textiles. Made of cotton saturated with green persimmon tannin, or kaki shibu, which gives the distinctive brown color, this utilitarian textile was used in sake making.

Crude sake, or sake lees, was placed in this bag and pressure was applied to squeeze out and filter the liquid. Repeated use required repeated mendings and we see the wonderfully odd stitches applied for this purpose.  

This bag with its rich, chestnut color, its leathery finish and its wonderful mending makes it a particularly good example of a sakabukuro so please have a good look at the  detail photos which accompany this posting.  Note that the stitched mending is found on the sides and bottom of the bag and that the thread color varies depending if it was dipped into the fermented persimmon tannin or not.

A really wonderful sakabukuro, and one of a high quality and attractiveness.

Recommended.