A Sakiori Kotatsugake Panel: Minimalist Color and Design

ca. mid twentieth century
53" x 14 1/2", 134.5 cm x 37 cm

This is a really gorgeous length of sakiori, a kind of weaving that uses shredded cloth for its weft yarn; sakiori is rag weave.

The thick, warp yarns are bright white cotton.  The weft is mainly a deep blue cotton; the combination of indigo weft and white warp creates, from a distance, a rich grey tone, which makes this softly variegated sakiori length Minimalist in appearance.

This wide, thickly woven and slubby cloth shows three very subtle, horizontal bands of color; these bands seem embedded in the texture and color of this predominately grey panel.

Most likely this sakiori panel is taken from a kotatsugake or hearth cover.  It shows one, subtle stain, about the size of a peach pit, which is pictured on the accompanying detail photos.

Beautiful and unusual.  And recommended.