A Silk Drawstring Bag: Charming Pieced and Stitched Scene

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
6 1/2" X 8" X 8", 16.5 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm

This delightful drawstring pouch or kinchaku shows a particularly well-executed pieced silk image on the bottom part of the bag.

Note the many and  small pieces of silk which are padded and expertly stitched together to create the charming scene we see here. Much skill, time, thought and planning went into the construction of this cloth picture.

The background of the image is chirimen or crepe silk dyed a deep blue tone. Notice how the pine tree on the left of the image is beautifully hand  stitched, as is the string detail on the costume of the character on the right.

The condition of this cloth picture is quite good as is the bag itself; certainly the drawstring is original to the bag.

These type of kinchaku with picture bottoms are seen but this one is set apart from the others by the high quality of the execution of the image, which is a delight to see.

Recommended.