Japan / Circa 1900-1930s
Size : W1350 D5 H1400 mm
Item Number : 16_101
Price Upon Request
A beautiful antique Japanese Sakiori textile, dating from the late Meiji to early Showa period, circa 1900–1930s.
Sakiori is a traditional Japanese form of rag weaving in which worn garments and discarded fabrics were torn into narrow strips and rewoven as weft. Born from a culture in which cloth was too valuable to waste, these textiles were created as practical household objects and were used extensively in rural communities throughout Japan.
This particular example is distinguished by its remarkably rich striped composition. Muted shades of natural beige, grey, charcoal and deep burgundy are punctuated by vivid lines of red, creating a subtle yet powerful rhythm across the surface.
Several handwoven sections have been joined together to form a single textile. Variations in the width of the stripes, density of the weave and colors of the reused fabrics give the piece an irregularity that could never be achieved through industrial production.
The reverse reveals another striking composition, with the direction of the stripes appearing vertically rather than horizontally, allowing the textile to present two distinctly different expressions.
Areas of wear, losses, exposed threads and old repairs remain throughout the textile. Rather than diminishing its character, these traces reveal its long history of use and the repeated acts of repair and preservation that allowed the cloth to survive.
Originally made as a humble utilitarian object, the textile today has a remarkably abstract and modernist presence. Its irregular geometry and restrained palette, interrupted by flashes of brilliant red, allow it to be appreciated not only as an example of Japanese vernacular craft but also as a compelling piece of textile art.
Beautiful displayed as a wall hanging, where its texture, imperfections and layered history can be fully appreciated.
