A Boldly Patched Sakabukuro: Mended Sake Filter

early twentieth century
28 1/2" x 10", 72.5 cm x 25.5 cm 

Sakabukuro, or sake straining bags, are usually made of cotton which has been 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 mending. and we see the wonderfully odd stitches applied for this purpose.  

This wonderful hand stitched bag is made of a canvas-weight cotton whose brown color is the result of the application of green persimmon tannin or kaki shibu as it is called in Japan.

There are two long and vertically-oriented mending patches and small eddies of stitching on the front of this bag; they are wonderfully artful and the good amount of both of them makes this sakabukuro desirable and collectible. The proper back of the sakabukuro shows minimal mending.

This is a wonderful example of a old mended sakabukuro.

Recommended.