Japan / Circa 1910-1930s
Size : W1650 D5 H1650 mm
Item Number : 16_103
Price Upon Request
A remarkable antique Japanese Boro patchwork textile, dating approximately from the Taisho to early Showa period, circa 1910s–1930s.
Created from various pieces of repurposed cloth, the textile combines large fields of muted green with panels of black, grey and yellow plaid. The entire surface is covered with countless rows of fine hand stitching, originally used to join and reinforce the layers of fabric.
The slightly irregular rhythm of these stitches reveals the hand of its maker. Rather than following a perfectly mechanical pattern, the lines gently shift and respond to the different pieces of cloth beneath them, creating a richly textured surface.
Particularly striking is the bold contrast between its two sides. While one side presents an earthy composition of green and plaid fabrics, the reverse is almost entirely covered in vivid red cloth, again densely worked with fine white stitching.
Originally created as a utilitarian textile rather than a decorative object, it embodies the Japanese tradition of preserving, repairing and reusing valuable cloth. Different fragments were layered and stitched together, extending the life of the material through repeated acts of handwork.
Viewed today, its unexpected arrangement of color and pattern possesses a distinctly abstract and modernist quality. The juxtaposition of solid green fields and geometric plaid, together with the repetitive white stitches, gives the textile a visual presence that feels remarkably contemporary.
The contrasting red reverse offers an entirely different expression, making the piece particularly compelling as a reversible wall hanging or textile artwork.
Signs of age, wear, irregularities, old repairs and variations in the stitching are preserved as an integral part of its history and character.
Origin: Japan
Period: Taisho to early Showa period
Date: Circa 1910s–1930s
Region: Unknown
Technique: Patchwork, hand stitching and reinforcement
Material: Primarily repurposed cotton textiles
