This lovely Japanese split bamboo ikebana basket or “hanakago” was crafted in round form and dates to the early Showa period. Strips of different widths and different shades of brown bamboo are inserted diagonally into the body structure to produce a powerful appeal. The handle is made from twisted bamboo cordage entwined around two strips of bamboo. 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. Overall dimensions: 12” high, 7” diameter.
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