A Mended Sake Making Filter: Patched Sakabukuro

early twentieth century
31 3/4" x 11 1/4", 81 cm x 28.5 cm

A sakabukuro is a straining bag or filter used in sake production. Crude sake, or sake lees, is poured into this bag. The sealed bag is then subjected to the force of great pressure and the sake is filtered out of the this strainer.

This particular sakabukuro is made of a kind of commercially produced cotton canvas which has been saturated with kaki shibu, or green persimmon tannin and shows a relatively pale brownish tone.

And note the lovely, long patch that sits on the fold of the bag and hugs it in an artful way, its stitching adding charm to this detail. 

Just lovely.