A Drawstring Cotton Rice Bag: Gradient Stripes

early twentieth century
8" x 10" x 10", 20 cm x 25.5 cm x 25.5 cm

This is a charming example of a piece-constructed, drawstring bag.

This type of piece-constructed, drawstring bag is often referred to as a komebukuro.  

Komebukuro are bags that were used to bring token offerings of uncooked rice or beans to a temple or shrine festival, the piecing and patching often being thought-out and placed in a manner so as to create a celebratory textile that will lend a festive air to the happy event.

What is nice about this bag and what is readily apparent is that it is hand stitched from a collection of a collection of woven striped cotton cloth, one of the prominent pieces is a kind of nineteenth century gradient striped cotton. 

A really beautiful bag for its lovely combination of different types of striped cotton, this bag embodies an aspect of traditional life in old Japan.

Recommended.