A Repaired Furoshiki: Recycled Tsutsugaki Dyed Cotton

early to mid twentieth century
45" x 38 3/4", 114.25 cm x 98.5 cm

This charming folk textile is an indigo dyed cotton furoshiki, a furoshiki being a traditional cloth used for wrapping, carrying, storage and hauling. 

This particular furoshiki is clearly made from repurposed cloth: the hand drawn, resist-dyed tsutsugaki design of young pines that appear on the two top corners of the piece are placed in such a way that indicates that the cloth was taken from one source and refashioned to become this furoshiki.

The furoshiki is hand stitched from four pieces and the back is shown here in the accompanying detail photos: as can be seen, the surface is repaired and there are three mending patches that are also hand stitched to the back of the piece.

A really lovely old folk textile and one with a super charming detail of the pair of tsutsugaki resisted young pines.