Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Baskets (5)

1890s - 1910s (late Meiji - early Taisho) Japanese bamboo basket woven in a shape of a tray to be used for ikebana arrangements or a tea ceremony. Wonderful piece made in Karamono (Chinese, more formal than Japanese) style with square grid center and concentric surround. Finely woven smoked narrow bamboo strips, rich warm patina from smoking process and age. The basket is in excellent shape, no broken strips. Diameter 9 inches, height 2 inches.

19th century Japanese woven bamboo ikebana basket made in informal Japanese (as opposed to formal Chinese) style of asymmetrical weave with narrow bamboo strips and couple of twigs on the sides. Charming eccentricity of weave, fine smoked bamboo, beautiful warm patina from smoking process and age. The base is woven in hexagonal grid with three larger pieces inserted for support. Very beautiful spotted bamboo insert with its inside lacquered black, can be used as an ikebana vase in its own right...

Late Taisho (1920s) Japanese woven bamboo ikebana basket, can be used both as a free standing vase and as a wall vase for tea ceremony. Superb piece made in free Japanese (as opposed to Karamono - more formal Chinese) style, woven loop on the back for hanging. Finely woven lightly smoked narrow strips made from awesomely beautiful finely spotted bamboo, which grows in Kyoto region. Perfect symmetry to weaving of the bottom, wonderful warm patina, black lacquered bamboo insert...

19th century Japanese woven bamboo ikebana basket to be used as a wall vase for tea ceremony. Superb piece made in free Japanese (as opposed to Karamono - more formal Chinese) style, metal fixture on the back for hanging, bamboo insert. Beautifully woven small bamboo branches cut in half lengthwise - rather unusual technique. Excellent deep brown color due to smoking process. Nice rhythm to the weaving of the bottom, extraordinary warm patina with great feel of age...

Late Meiji period (1890s to 1912) good size Japanese woven bamboo ikebana basket with round body cleverly tapering down to a square base. Beautiful piece for presenting flowers woven mostly in Karamono (Chinese) style, which is more formal than Japanese and is usually associated with Kansai region. The shape and execution of the body weave in regular rows is in Chinese style, while details such as knots around the rim are very Japanese...