A Length of Boro Katazome Cotton: Machine Stitched Patches

early to mid twentieth century
67" x 13 1/4", 170 cm x 33.5 cm

This is a length of beautifully katazome dyed hand loomed indigo cotton cloth that has been mended along its two selvedge edges with long strips of purple colored cotton. These long patches are machine stitched to the base cloth, a practice not so uncommon in the early to mid twentieth century when sewing machines were being used by a wider swath of the Japanese population.

The length is composed of two pieces which have been hand stitched together.  There is a total of eight patches, three of which are hand stitched to the base.  

The katazome cloth shows a pattern of stylized cranes and tortoises rendered in roundels amid a field of regularly spaced chrysanthemums.  The opposite side of the cloth showing this pattern is represented in detail photos, attached here.

A wonderful old length of boro katazome cotton.