Antique Japanese Indigo Boro Textile with Sashiko

Size: Approximately 50.5 inches wide by 57.5 inches long
Japan · Circa 1900–1920, late Meiji to early Taisho · Cotton

One side of this Japanese boro textile is pieced from deep and faded indigo cottons, with sashiko stitching, patches, seams, and hand repairs across the surface.

Turn it over and larger katazome panels show pale flowers and curling vines against the blue. Katazome is Japanese stencil-resist dyeing; here, it gives the reverse a repeating floral pattern alongside the patchwork on the other face.

Both sides have finished edges, so either can face out. It’s a large cotton textile with a little over two pounds of weight, without the bulk of quilting.

Details

• Techniques: Hand-pieced patchwork, sashiko stitching, and katazome stencil-resist dyeing
• Construction: Double-sided textile with finished edges
• Weight: Approximately 2 pounds, 4.5 ounces

Condition

It’s in good antique condition, with no holes or tears. The indigo ranges from deep to heavily faded blue, with age staining, surface wear, and old patches. There are a few loose or missing stitches and slightly irregular edges.