BEauTIFul BORo

If you have recd. my little newsletter you will have read about a friends beautiful gift that I recd this week - what an honor - just love it!  The art journal gift was entitled 'A Japanese Theme' and it depicts a story of Japanese Boro - and included an interesting article about Boro.  Lead me to the net - and a Japanese museum featuring Boro - and photos etc - it was fun and quite a learning experience.  The museum is  http://www.amusemuseum.com/english/boro/index.html

'In rural Japan back in the 19th and into the early 20th century cotton was very scarce. Most early Japanese garments were made of hemp, but for northern Japan these clothes had to be thickly woven, were often uncomfortable, and did not retain warmth very well. So when cotton was introduced to Japan, it was seen as a luxury item for rural poor. Cotton was brought from warmer districts such as Osaka and other cities by ships, where people bought fragments instead of a cloth roll as it was less expensive. It was common for these textiles to be passed down through generations, where they would be patched and mended to reinforce them for the next user. It’s sort of an unintended art form, which highlights preservation and the importance of reuse and recycling.  From - 'http://stadiumsandshrines.com/gem-club-on-japanese-boro/

Serviceable Items that have Become Works of Art