Japonisme Decorative Baskets

This small elegant woven bamboo basket was meant to be a hand-hold bag with its brocade interior (which appears original). It was made by Suzuki Gengensai (1891-1950) circa 1910-20s. Suzuki Gengensai was from Kansai region and active in Osaka. He studied bamboo art under Yamashita Kochikusai (1876-1947) and became an independent artist in 1913. He received his artist name Gengensai in 1914 and in 1923 he changed the characters to Gen, a slight written variation of the character. This basket was signed in the former way, which helps to date the piece to the early part of the artist's career circa 1914-1923. The basket is tightly woven in variation of twill plating that creates contrasting bands on the surface. The base was constructed with short bamboo stripes on the corners and side with ornamental knots. A closely related piece (Object Number: 2006.3.651) with slight different surface twill patterns is in the collection of Asian Art Museum San Francisco. Comparing the two, they show almost identical form as well as the base construction. Both also have brocade interior and most likely were woven during the same period. Another documented example can be found on page 180 in "Baskets Masterpieces of Japanese Bamboo Art...

A Japanese woven bamboo basket with handle circa late 19th century of the end of Meiji period. The basket was constructed in the form of a morikago. a shallow and open basket with ha...

A miniature bamboo basket woven by Hayakawa Shokosai I (1815-1897) circa 1885, an important example of the work by the artist who is considered as the founding father of Japanese modern bamboo art and the first ever signed his own work thus elevating bamboo weaving from a craft into an art form. The miniature basket was traditionally used during Sencha tea ceremony. It was woven from bamboo (madake) and rattan using...

Ikebana basket (hanakago) made of dark brown varnished bamboo wickerwork rounded shape with a twisted handle. Ikebana or Ka-do (the way of flowers) is a traditional Japanese art of...

Japanese Late Meiji Period Woven Bamboo Tea Ceremony Basket, Early 20th Century PERIOD Meiji Period (1868-1912) DIMENSIONS Height: 11.5 INCHES Diameter: 5 inches ABOU...

Japanese Late Meiji Period (1868-1912) Woven Bamboo Basket, Early 20th Century DIMENSIONS Height: 14 inches Diameter: 8.5 inches ABOUT A finely hand-woven Japanese bamboo basket fr...

An elegantly woven bamboo basket with handle as an ikenana container by Suzuki Gengensai (1891-1950) circa 1923-50. Suzuki Gengensai was from Kansai region and active in Osaka. He studied bamboo art under Yamashita Kochikusai (1876-1947) and became an independent artist in 1913. He received his artist name Gengensai in 1914 and in 1923 he changed the characters to Gen, a slight written variation of the character. This basket was signed in this later variation, which helps to date the piece to post 1923. The basket is woven entirely in a free style irregular plating on the body and with a twisted bundled handle. The surface is lacquered in a deep reddish color. The seemingly less rigid technique renders the piece a more rustic and natural aesthetic that is more suitable for certain occasions. It is singed on the base with artist's signature in the variation post 1923. A very similar basket of the irregular weaving but without the handle is illustrated in plate 72 in "Baskets Masterpieces of Japanese Bamboo Art...

A lovely Japanese bamboo basket by Hayakawa Shokosai IV, the fourth generation of the Shokosai lineage, one of the best known in the Japanese Bamboo art...

An important Japanese bamboo Ikebana basket by Yamamoto Chikuryosai I (also known as Chikuryusai I, Shoen after 1929) (1868-1945). Active in Osaka, Kansai region, he was advised by Wada Waichisai I. After 1929, he signed his work as Shoen (Shoen made this), such as this one. This basket was made using "sooted" bamboo (susutake in Japanese). This bamboo materials was collected from traditional thatched-roof houses that had been exposed to decades of smoke from a hearth or cooking fire, therefore the basket displays a deep rich patina that is hard to attain by color-lacquering. The basket featured a large rounded barrel form with handle. The body was constructed with a twill plaiting variation of a more relaxed and loose weave. It allows the light coming through to render the piece a lighter sense. Parallel plaiting was used to reinforce the body with stripes of bamboo, while adding more visual constrict to a free spirited background. Twisted bamboo strips form rope-like handle and the top rim. It is signed "Shoen Made This" on the base. Two-piece water container made from bamboo trunk is retained with the piece as shown. For the artists other and similar work, see baskets masterpieces of Japanese Bamboo Art...

Ikebana basket (hanakago) in wickerwork of polished bamboo with twisted handle. Features a sheet metal and varnished bamboo vase for the floral arrangement. Mark under the vase Nana...

A woven bamboo flower Ikebana basket by Tanabe Chikuunsai II (1921-2000) from Showa era (1926-1989), circa 1950-1960s. The ikebana basket takes a vertical square form, the body was e...

Japanese Double-cut (Niju-giri) Flower Container (Hanaire) for ikebana tea ceremony. 1st half of 20th century. Cut from a single piece of bamboo with root section and openings for two tier flower arrangement, Niju-ike, copper cups...

A lovely Japanese bamboo ikebana basket in the shape of gourd with an open mouth and a body circa 1920s-1940s. The piece was woven in great details and styles with mostly irregular a...

Yamashita Kochikusai (1876-1947) was a bamboo artist from Osaka, Kansai region. He apprenticed under Wada Waichisai I (1851-1901), becoming independent in 1901. His students include ...

Bold, rustic and with an earthy free spirit, this wagumi style flower basket with twisted handle (ikebana) was designed and woven to evoke a sense of serenity and humbleness during t...

Yamashita Kochikusai (1876-1947) was a Japanese bamboo artist from Osaka, Kansai region. He apprenticed under Wada Waichisai I (1851-1901), becoming independent in 1901. His students include Ezono Chikubisai, Suzuki Gengensai and Inose Kohosai. He won prizes for his work at numbers of exhibitions and was patronized by the Imperial Household. The basket on offer has a simple but elegant elongated shape and it was finely woven with smoked bamboo likely circa 1910s-1920s, late Meiji to early Taisho period. The body was constructed with Hexagonal Plaiting for the main body, reinforced with twining in the upper and lower portions. The special design was reserved for an mouth ring...

A handwoven bamboo basket by Japanese bamboo artist Higashi Takesonosai (1915-2003), in the form of a traditional rice container. It was woven with...

A Japanese woven bamboo basket with handle from early 20th century, circa end of Meiji to Taisho period. The basket was constructed in the form o...

A large and impressive Japanese basket in the form of a morikago by Maeda Chikubosai I (1872-1950) circa first half of the 20th century. Chikubosai I was from the Kansai Region and active in Sakai, Osaka prefecture. He was instructed by Wada Waichisai I, (1851-1901). Morikago is a shallow open basket with handle. It was traditionally used to display fruits, sometimes flowers, during Sencha tea ceremony. In contrast to Chanoyu, Sencha ceremony uses loose green tea leaves instead of tea powder. The placement of loose fruits in the basket meant that the pattern of the bottom, which is often elaborate, was meant to be visible. This morikago was beautifully constructed with bent bamboo frame and twill plaits for the body. The bottom of the basket features a double diamond pattern achieved with a variation of plover plait. The bifurcated handles was bundle-plated with a rather free spirit approach. They show a poetic suggestion of movement, as if the bamboos were still swaying in the wind. The basket has a copper insert that fits perfectly and it is quite possibly the original. The basket is signed on the base "Chikubosai". The style of the signature shows that it was made by Maeda Chikubosai I. For another Morikago basket by Maeda Chikubosai I, see page 79 of "Masters of Bamboo" by Rinne. For the study of the signature of Chikubosai I "Baskets Master Pieces of Japanese Bamboo Art...

A vintage Japanese ikebana made from lacquered bamboo basketry circa first half of the 20th century. This piece of bamboo art displays an very light and delicate classic tapered squa...

An elegant woven bamboo basket from the late Meiji period, dating to the early 20th century. This tall, finely crafted piece exemplifies the artistry and technical mastery of Japanes...

Antique Japanese woven boat shape (funagata) Ikebana flower basket, with lacquer,975 rattan, root and smoked bamboo. Fine quality weaving with wonderful patina.

A Japanese bamboo Ikebana hanging basket circa 1920s-1940s, made with "sooted" bamboo (susutake in Japanese). This bamboo material was collected from traditional thatched-roof houses...

An important piece of bamboo basketry art by Maeda Chikubosai I (1872-1950), circa 1920s-1930s. The body of the bamboo brazier was made with smoked bamboo (susudake) and rattan and with a built-in copper liner brazier. Mat plaiting, diagonal plaiting and twining were used to construct the robust body while hexagonal plaiting was used for the base. It is signed on the base Chikubosai Kore o tsukuru (Chikubosai made this). The copper brazier...