A Large Cotton Komebukuro: Stripes and Kasuri

ca. mid twentieth century
15" x 14" x 14", 38 cm x 35.5 cm x 35.5 cm

This kind 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 planned in order to create a celebratory textile that will lend a festive air to the happy event.

This large komebukuro is hand stitched from eight pieces of cotton cloth with the bottom neatly sashiko stitched for support.  The cotton on this bag is very crisp and clean and it seems the bag, if used at all, was used lightly.  The drawstring is a flat, commercially woven cotton cord, similar to a shoestring.

A really lovely piece with good color and structure.  And it is a good size so its applications for use are wide.