Antique Japanese Boro Indigo Cotton Cloth Katazome Phoenix Motif Futon Cover

Antique Japanese Boro Indigo Cotton Katazome Phoenix Bridal Futon Cover Late Edo - Meiji BRKW166

This is a remarkable antique Japanese indigo-dyed cotton cloth, featuring a beautiful traditional katazome (stencil dyeing) continuous pattern of mythical Houou (Phoenix) birds and elegant floral arabesque motifs. Because of this highly auspicious and high-ranking design, it was likely originally made as celebratory or bridal bedding (konrei-yagu) for a wealthy merchant-class family.

This textile is an exceptional historical artifact. The rectangular dimensions (approx. 136x195cm) indicate it consists of four standard-width panels of fabric joined together specifically for use as a top quilt cover (kakebuton), rather than a square wrapping cloth (furoshiki). The fabric is hand-spun, hand-woven cotton, completely joined using sturdy hand-stitched flat-felled seams (orifuse-nui) with no machine sewing. This construction, along with the natural indigo katazome, strongly indicates it dates back to the Late Edo or Early Meiji period (circa 1850s–1885), predating the modernization of Japanese textile production.

Over a century of practical use, it has naturally evolved into a breathtaking piece of Boro textile art. The even fading across the fabric, central wear, and numerous hand-stitched patches (ate-nuno) with white cotton thread tell a profound story of generations of daily use and careful mending.

It is a museum-quality example of Japanese folk textile (mingei) that can be displayed as a stunning tapestry, a bed runner, or utilized in high-end interior design, embodying the true spirit of wabi-sabi.

Size

Length: 195 cm / approx. 76.7 inches

Width: 136 cm / approx. 53.5 inches

Condition

Please note that there is a single small hole at the bottom center of the piece (an enlarged view is available in Image 17).

As a deeply historic and heavily utilized antique textile, this piece features extensive fading, wear, patching, hand-stitched repairs, and frayed edges throughout. These are not considered flaws; rather, they are the defining characteristics of authentic Japanese Boro and vintage indigo-dyed fabrics that give the piece its celebrated aesthetic and historical value. We kindly ask you to check the photos carefully to confirm the exact condition before purchasing.