A Repaired and Mended Sakabukuro: Traditional Sake Making Filter

early twentieth century
30 1/4" x 9 1/2", 76 cm x 24 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 is a nice example of a sakabukuro and it shows beautifully arranged mending stitches along the fold of the bag, very attractive. The bag is hand stitched and it has a lovely patina from wear, and a beautiful color, too.

This is a handsome sakabukuro, and one of a quality that is becoming more and more difficult to find. 

Recommended.