Antique Japanese Gourd Shape Bamboo Ikebana Basket | Hanabako

Dimensions: 12”L

Offered is a lovely Japanese beautiful, Gourd-Shaped Basket for Flowers with an open mouth and crude bamboo insert to hold fruit, (this interior container is open on both ends and will not hold water as some piece are designed to do). Gourd is an auspicious symbol in Japan and associated with the holder of ambrosia thus an emblem for longevity or immortality. The piece is skillfully made to be hung on a narrow wall in a traditional Japanese home. It was made to enjoy simple arrangements often filled with flowers gathered from the garden.

The basket was constructed with a free-hand mat plaiting technique used to create a swelled body, and to creating a delicate shape. The piece was woven in great detail and style with regular and tight weaving technique. The surface of the basket shows a deep patina from sooting, (susutake) from smoke from an ‘Irori’, which is a sunken hearth giving the basket a deep rich patina. The basket with rattan accents shows bamboo twisted and tightened to finish the top and decorate the middle of the piece. The piece exhibits a strong sense of rustic charm, the so called Mingei (folk art) style. The craftsman is unidentified, but the workmanship is quite sophisticated and done by a master weaver.

Condition: Excellent condition and wear consistent affording the basket age old elegance. Fine, with nice patina and age-appropriate wear and meets all the standards of collectible Folk Art.