I think this group looks good: a Bengali kantha is the backdrop to a large, Rajasthani cloth-covered appliqued lidded vessel and a group of five Japanese temari. The kantha is a lovely one: when viewed in its entirety is shows a tree of life surrounded by stylized, fanciful lotus and bird forms, as can be seen on the bottom of the photo, above.This vessel is really charming.  It measures about 10″/ 25.5 cm in diameter and it is made of a formed reed interior that has been covered in applique cotton.  Really delightful.The five colorful balls surrounding the large pot are Japanese temari.  Temari are children’s toys that were originally made from leftover threads which were wound into a ball whose exterior was adorned by a complex, geometric decoration.  These temari are probably from the late nineteenth through the early twentieth century.

It’s beautiful how harmonious these three seemingly disparate elements are.  And I think they’re a really pleasant group to view in summer.

I’ve posted on temari before, but I was compelled to show this trio, which I think is handsome—and which looks so good catching strong, warm sunlight.

Temari as they were originally conceived were balls wound from leftover threads; they were meant to be enchanting amusements for children, and very often the heart of the ball would contain a small note of auspicious content for the child, or sometimes a little bell would be at the center of the ball.

Today temari have evolved into a less homey production than in the early days, and now many hobbyists and artisans around the world enjoy making temari, some of them showcasing designs that are quite accomplished, complex, flashy and non-traditional.

These temari with their very bold, geometric designs probably date to the mid-twentieth century or slightly earlier, and they are made of cotton threads.  And they’re beautiful.

I’ll be offering them on my website later this year, but do inquire if you are interested.