An Indigo Dyed Cotton Komebukuro: Presentation Rice Bag

early twentieth century 7" x 8" x 8", 18 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm This lovely drawstring bag is hand sewn from about 17 pieces of hand loomed Japanese cottons, a fairly even mixture of indigo dyed kasuri and katazome are hand stitched together. About four different patterns of cloth are shown. The charming twined blue and white cotton drawstring seems original to the bag. This kind of piece-constructed, drawstring bag is often referred to as a komebukuro. Komebukuro are bags that were used to bring token offerings of uncooked rice or beans to a temple or shrine festival, the piecing and patching often being thought-out and planned, for festive effect. A marvelous bag, it is one that shows really lovely hand loomed cottons in nice shades of indigo--it is an object that beautifully recalls the spirit of old Japan.