Kinchaku bag, Japan, Meiji (circa 1880), cm 11x8. This is a very charming little drawstring ‘kinchaku’ bag, made of fragments of chirimen (crepe) silk skilfully worked in the patchwork technique to obtain different figures, then delicately hand-painted on the details. The figures thus obtained tell us the story of ‘Takasago’. Takasago, the legend of the contented couple, is one of Japan's oldest and is performed in the Noh Theatre story by the same name. Takasago is actually the location of the tale. There are an old man, called Jou, and an old woman, Uba, and as a couple they are called Jotomba. Deeply devoted in life, the old couple passed away within moments of each other and their spirits were transformed into pine trees: he a black pine and she a red. They are most commonly depicted with the woman on the right (as we face them), the man on the left, and often a pine tree in the background. It is not unusual to see them accompanied by a crane and a tortoise, as well as other felicitous symbols. Jou is shown to carry a rake and Uba a broom. As she sweeps away all sorrow and ill fortune, Jou takes care to rake in the blessings of the past. They are an excellent reminder of the joy and contentment that comes from striving through life's challenges in a devoted and loving relationship. This makes them ideally suited to be placed on display for all new undertakings. You will find their images portrayed at weddings, anniversaries, and New Year celebrations. The real surprise of this bag, though, is its base, which is powerfully fashioned representing a tiger amid bamboo plants (a symbol of strength and moral integrity). This cute bag shows wear in the hem and at bottom edges, but it is a stunning little bag, most likely used by a nineteenth century little girl - and most likely used in early spring, to carry offerings of dry rice or beans to a Buddhist temple. The entire bag is hand-stitched and lined in hand loomed cotton. a really wonderfully lovely and delicate item, this most certainly carries with it traditions from a lost Japan.