Wrapping cloth (furoshiki)

20th century

Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth used to carry things. This furoshiki is decorated with geometric patterns stitched at the four corners. To wrap an item, the diagonal corners are tied together to secure the item within, turning a square piece of cloth into a three-dimensional form.

Stitched (sashiko) cotton cloth

41 3/8 x 39 in. (105.09 x 99.06 cm)

Gift of the Virginia and Bagley Wright Collection

89.153

Photo: Paul Macapia

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Beyond The Tanabata Bridge: A Textile Journey In Japan (Washington, D.C., Textile Museum, Sept. 10, 1993 - Feb. 27, 1994; Birmingham, Alabama, Birmingham Museum of Art, Apr. 17 - June 26, 1994; Dallas, Texas, Dallas Museum of Art, Mar. 12 - May 28, 1995).

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Mood Indigo: Textiles from Around the World, Apr. 9 - Oct. 9, 2016.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Folding into Shape: Japanese Design and Crafts, Sept. 18, 2021 - Sept. 25, 2022.

Published ReferencesRathbun, William Jay, Seattle Art Museum, "Beyond The Tanabata Bridge: Traditional Japanese Textiles", 1993 Seattle, Washington. pg. 119

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