A Thickly Woven Checkerboard Obi: Sakiori-like

mid twentieth century
122" x 5", 310 cm x 12.75 cm

At first glance this woven obi with a checkerboard design appears to be sakiori or rag woven--this pattern is often seen in sakiori obi and the weight and texture of this obi are very similar to something rag woven.

This one, however, is woven from thick yarn.

The warp yarns are thin and are in color tones of white, red and orange so as to create the design we see here. The weft yarns are thick, glossy, red yarns that give the heft to the obi. Often in Japan these non-sakiori obi are sold as being sakiori, simply because they look so similar to rag woven ones and dealers do not take the time to look at each obi carefully.

This one is in good condition, so good that it appears to be unused.