A Six Sided Intricately Folded Silk Bag: Pop-Up

reduced from $95.00
ca. late nineteenth, early twentieth century
8 1/2" x 11" x 11", 21.5 cm x 28 cm x 28 cm

What a lovely curiosity.

This is a bag made of silk pieces--19 in all--whose base form is a hexagon or, more appropriately, the kikko or tortoiseshell motif, a design that has been very carefully pieced on the bottom of the bag.

The bag is constructed in such a way that it is folded on diagonals and can be flattened into the shape shown on the lead photos, the folding appearing like--and working like--a camera's aperture.

When unfurled, the bag stands straight up.  

It not only appears never to have been used, it also seems unfinished: the loops are missing a drawstring, and the loops seem to show no abrasion from having been used, so it seems this lovely bag has been hand stitched, folded neatly, and forgotten.

Interestingly, the interior of the bag shows a smattering of holes where some kind of insect (now long gone) was feasting on the lining.

Very charming.