A Length of Boro Egasuri: Tigers, Bamboo and Sparrows

 ca. mid twentieth century
56 1/2" x 13", 143.5 cm x 33 cm

This is a length of very worn and thin cotton egasuri or picture kasuri which depicts tigers and sparrows among bamboo within a grid-based network of dark indigo dyed yarns.

The threadbare is patched, and if the tigers, sparrows and bamboo were not delightful enough, then these fantastically beautiful--twenty in all--patches add to the graphic beauty of this richly mended boro length.

You will note that two of the twenty patches, although woven cotton, seem to be pieces torn from a book as they are imprinted with some kind of specialized grid or matrix.  Just fascinating.

The cloth shows a few holes and as can be seen by the long shot of the piece, it has a slight curve, the result of a long life of being stretched and used.  Most likely this kasuri cotton boro cloth was taken from a futon cover.

Gorgeous, and recommended.