A Fine Bamboo Ikebana Basket by Shimabashi Chikufusai
- Artist:
- Shimabashi Chikufusai
- Era:
- Taishō
- Price:
- $1,500
- Inquire:
- Contact gallery
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Here we see an elegant Japanese flower basket woven from richly patinated susudake, or soot-darkened bamboo. Its softly rounded body combines areas of delicate hexagonal openwork with denser diagonal plaiting, all beautifully framed by a series of carefully wrapped bamboo bands. A single slender handle rises high above the basket in a dramatic arch, giving the piece a particularly graceful and sculptural presence. The deep reddish-brown lacquered finish and removable bamboo water container provide a striking contrast to the intricate woven surface.
Shimabashi Chikufusai (1888-1949) was a Wakayama bamboo artist who studied under the influential first-generation Tanabe Chikuunsai. Active during the Taisho and early Showa periods, Chikufusai belonged to a generation of craftsmen who helped elevate traditional Japanese basketry from functional flower containers into expressive works of sculptural art. The precision of the weaving, balanced proportions and elegant use of open space seen here demonstrate both his considerable technical ability and the refined artistic sensibility associated with the Chikuunsai lineage.
In very good antique condition with only minor surface wear. The basket measures 25.2cm wide by 23.5cm deep and stands 55cm tall including the handle. It is signed Chikufusai beneath and comes with its original signed and sealed wood storage box and removable lacquered bamboo water container.
*** International shipping and insurance are included in the price.
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