A Length of Boro Kurume Gasuri: Patched, Stitched, Torn

ca. mid twentieth century
56 1/2" x 12", 143.5 cm x 30.5 cm 

This is a vibrant length of indigo dyed cotton that was woven in the kasuri or ikat method, wherein the cotton yarns were tied before they were dyed in order to create a pattern or image once the yarns are woven into cloth.

This boldly geometric kasuri comes from Kurume on Kyushu Island; it is rather unmistakably referential to this place, a famous center for kasuri weaving.  You will see that this length of cloth is not only composed of two types of kasuri, the main body of the cloth has been mended and patched over--and there are still some holes and abrasion to its surface.  And there is very good stitching, too.

The top portion of kasuri is a kind of machine-aided kasuri called NikoNiko which was popular in Japan in the 1920s and 1930s.  It's a lovely fragment.

Aside from the surface abrasion and patching, please do note a stain to the white, undyed area of the cloth, dead center, and shown in detail on the accompanying photographs.

Beautifully bold and boro.