horse trapping, Japan, Meiji (c. 1880), cm 43x61. This small and wonderful boro horse trapping (uma gake) is made from Meiji Era tsutsugaki dyed cotton indigo; the butterfly 'mon' or family crest that is split laterally and reassembled side-by-side is most probably colored with 'bengara' a kind of natural iron oxide that produces a coral-red color. Seen also is 'karakusa' or a trailing vine motif popular with tsutsugaki artisans in the Edo and Meiji. The verso of this piece is made of a 'shima' or striped indigo cotton, presumably Meiji Era as well, hand loomed. The artful placement of the patches on the front of the piece as they sit against a ground of the wonderfully faded re-used tsutsugaki indigo cotton fabric make this a kind of boro jewel.