Freestyle Japanese Bamboo Ikebana Basket
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Antiques:
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Japanese:
Baskets:
Pre 1900 item# 399353 (stock# 11C-039)
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B & C ANTIQUES
203-929-7312
$395
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This lovely spherical Japanese basket for flower arrangements (“hanakago”) is finely woven from thin split bamboo strips and dates to the Meiji period, ca. 1890. The warm burnished brown ovoid body is crafted primarily in the rhythmic “tomokumimono” technique, using even-sized widths of bamboo to create a textural refinement that has balance and elegance. Irregular “midare” plaiting produces a powerful and expressionistic character. Midare, which utilizes bamboo strips freely plaited and inserted in random areas around the body to provide a lively contrast of textures, is a popular style for flower baskets. Bamboo strips are further plaited in complicated rounded forms at the top of the basket, the ends of which are inserted into the base plaiting structures on the body. Thinner segments of bamboo have been twisted to form the handle, which flows into the midare decoration. Since the sixteenth century, woven baskets for flowers have been favorites for use in the tea ceremony. Designed to contain fresh-cut flowers, flower baskets were also used in shrines and in the alcoves in Japanese homes (“tokonoma”), providing an atmosphere conducive to the quiet and tranquil contemplation of nature. While bamboo baskets have served various utilitarian functions in Japanese daily life for centuries, they also have been valued for their beauty. They express a Japanese aesthetic rooted in simplicity, humble natural materials and imperfect beauty. Beginning in the Meiji period, Japanese basket makers gradually transformed traditional flower baskets from utilitarian containers into sculptural masterpieces crafted in a variety of shapes, weaves and knots. Japanese baskets make aesthetically pleasing flower containers, since they bring the garden indoors and lend themselves well to natural arrangements. Condition is excellent with only normal wear consistent with age and usage, and there is a nice old finish and patina to the bamboo. Dimensions: Basket is 7” high (9 ½”tall including the handle), approximately 6” widest diameter.
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Japanese Gourd Shaped Bamboo and Wood Ikebana Basket
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Regional Art:
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Japanese:
Baskets:
Pre 1920 item# 883699 (stock# 11C-030)
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B & C ANTIQUES
203-929-7312
$490
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This elegant split bamboo flower arranging basket (“hanaire” or “hanakago”) is beautifully plaited in the form of a double gourd or “hyotan.” Meiji/Taisho period, early 20th century. Two large delicate bamboo pods rest on a sturdy support frame of twisted tree roots and branches, likely wisteria. These rustic gnarled wood pieces provide a lively contrast of textures to the irregular “midare” plaiting of the traditional gourd shape. Midare, which utilizes bamboo strips freely plaited and inserted in random areas around the body, is a popular style for Japanese flower baskets. Incorporating both thick and thin widths of bamboo, the freestyle midare plaiting produces a powerful and expressionistic character in this particular basket form. There is a round opening in the bottom horizontal section which would have held a watertight metal flower container.
Since the sixteenth century, woven baskets for flowers have been favorites for use in the tea ceremony. Designed to contain fresh-cut flowers, flower baskets were also used in shrines and in the alcoves in Japanese homes (“tokonoma”), providing an atmosphere conducive to the quiet and tranquil contemplation of nature. While bamboo baskets have served various utilitarian functions in Japanese daily life for centuries, they also have been valued for their beauty. They express a Japanese aesthetic rooted in simplicity, humble natural materials and imperfect beauty. Beginning in the Meiji period, Japanese basket makers gradually transformed traditional flower baskets from utilitarian containers into sculptural masterpieces crafted in a variety of shapes, weaves and knots. Japanese baskets make aesthetically pleasing flower containers, since they bring the garden indoors and lend themselves well to natural arrangements.
CONDITION is excellent, with only normal wear consistent with age and usage. There is a wonderful old finish and patina to the bamboo. DIMENSIONS: 16 ½” (42 cm) high to top of vertical branch; 7 ½” (19 cm) high to top of horizontal segment; approximately 17” (43.2 cm) long and 8” (20.3 cm) wide.
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Unusual Japanese Burlwood Basket, Meiji
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Antiques:
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Baskets:
Pre 1920 item# 335690 (stock# 11-305)
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B & C ANTIQUES
203-929-7312
$575
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This wonderful Japanese shallow form basket or “moribon,” made of curling hardwood burl, has a bold irregular loop handle and was hand carved out of a single tree stump. Meiji period (1869-1912). The two round cutout carvings on the inside of the basket indicate that it might have served as a tabako-bon smoking tray. The basket’s swirling edge follows the natural tree shape, creating a wonderfully elegant movement. The inherent natural honey-colored hue of the wood enhances the rich grain in the burl, giving its graphic wavy design a luminous depth and sheen. We suspect that the small circular cutout may have been made to hold a bamboo cylinder ash receptacle and the larger one to contain a small ceramic brazier where small bits of charcoal were kept burning among ashes for use in lighting tobacco. (Enlargement Photo 6 shows what it might have looked like as a tabako-bon.) This is a wonderful and unusual example of early Japanese burl wood carving, and its condition is excellent. There is some evidence of burn marks, providing further evidence of its possible use as a tabako-bon. Dimensions: 7” x 6” x 7” high to top of handle.
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Large Japanese Bamboo Ikebana Basket, Signed
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Pre 1920 item# 457205 (stock# 11C-040)
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B & C ANTIQUES
203-929-7312
$575
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This expressive freestyle Japanese basket for flower arrangements (“hanakago”) is woven from both thin and thick split bamboo strips and likely dates to the early 20th century. An unidentified three-character signature is carved into one of the bamboo strips on the base. The warm burnished brown ovoid body is crafted with hexagonally plaited thin strips of bamboo into which wide thick bamboo strips have been inserted, giving the basket the overall appearance of irregular “midare” plaiting. These thicker diagonal elements offer fluidity and motion to the basket while creating a textural refinement that has balance and elegance. Thinner segments of bamboo have been twisted to form the handle, which flows naturally into the midare decoration. Since the sixteenth century, woven baskets for flowers have been favorites for use in the tea ceremony. Designed to contain fresh-cut flowers, flower baskets were also used in shrines and in the alcoves in Japanese homes (“tokonoma”), providing an atmosphere conducive to the quiet and tranquil contemplation of nature. While bamboo baskets have served various utilitarian functions in Japanese daily life for centuries, they also have been valued for their beauty. They express a Japanese aesthetic rooted in simplicity, humble natural materials and imperfect beauty. Beginning in the Meiji period, Japanese basket makers gradually transformed traditional flower baskets from utilitarian containers into sculptural masterpieces crafted in a variety of shapes, weaves and knots. Japanese baskets make aesthetically pleasing flower containers, since they bring the garden indoors and lend themselves well to natural arrangements. Condition is excellent with only normal wear consistent with age and usage and only one small bamboo break. There is a wonderful old finish and patina to the bamboo. Dimensions: Basket is 8 ½” high (15” tall including the handle), approximately 8 ½” widest diameter.
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Japanese Bamboo Ikebana Basket
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Asian:
Japanese:
Baskets:
Pre 1920 item# 365995 (stock# 11C-037)
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click for details
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B & C ANTIQUES
203-929-7312
$425
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This large spherical Japanese basket for flower arrangements (“hanakago”) is finely woven from thin split bamboo strips and dates to the early 20th century. The warm burnished brown ovoid body is crafted primarily in the rhythmic “tomokumimono” technique, with even size warps and wefts creating a textural refinement that has balance and elegance. Irregular “midare” plaiting is inserted in random areas around the body, providing a lively contrast of textures. Thicker segments of bamboo have been twisted to form the handle and plaited with braided bamboo which flows into the midare decoration. The handle runs through the body just above its midsection, endowing this basket with quiet energy. Since the sixteenth century, woven baskets for flowers have been favorites for use in the tea ceremony. Designed to contain fresh-cut flowers, flower baskets were also used in shrines and in the alcoves in Japanese homes (“tokonoma”), providing an atmosphere conducive to the quiet and tranquil contemplation of nature. While bamboo baskets have served various utilitarian functions in Japanese daily life for centuries, they also have been valued for their beauty. They express a Japanese aesthetic rooted in simplicity, humble natural materials and imperfect beauty. Beginning in the Meiji period, Japanese basketmakers gradually transformed traditional flower baskets from utilitarian containers into sculptural masterpieces crafted in a variety of shapes, weaves and knots. Japanese baskets make aesthetically pleasing flower containers, since they bring the garden indoors and lend themselves well to natural arrangements. Condition is excellent and completely intact, with a nice old finish and patina to the bamboo. Dimensions: 9 ¾” high (14 ½” tall including the handle); approximately 8" in diameter.
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Fine Meiji Period Japanese Burl Wood Basket
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Antiques:
Regional Art:
Asian:
Japanese:
Baskets:
Pre 1900 item# 713276 (stock# 11-317)
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click for details
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B & C ANTIQUES
203-929-7312
$765
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This lovely Japanese shallow form basket or “moribon,” hand carved of curling hardwood burl, has a bold irregular loop handle and sinuous natural form. Meiji period, late 19th century. The basket’s swirling edge follows the natural tree shape, creating a wonderfully elegant movement. The natural knot hole adds a further interesting element to its pure organic form. The inherent natural honey-colored hue of the wood enhances the rich grain in the burl, giving its graphic wavy design a luminous depth and sheen.
This type of moribon basket or tray was used for displaying seasonal fruit, and it was carved out of a single tree stump. (A similar example can be seen in Figure 133 in “Shadowed Reflections, Japanese Views,” a hardcover catalog by Kagedo Japanese Art.) This is a wonderful and scarce example of early Japanese burl wood carving.
CONDITION is excellent. DIMENSIONS: 9” long, 6” wide, 7” high to top of handle.
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