Japanese Bamboo Basket Ikebana by Yamashita Kochikusai

Description

Yamashita Kochikusai (as a Japanese bamboo artist from Osaka, Kansai region. He apprenticed under Wada Waichisai I (becoming independent in … more Yamashita Kochikusai (as a Japanese bamboo artist from Osaka, Kansai region. He apprenticed under Wada Waichisai I (becoming independent in 1901. His students include Ezono Chikubisai, Suzuki Gengensai and Inose Kohosai. He won prizes for his work at numbers of exhibitions and was patronized by the Imperial Household.
The basket on offer has a simple but elegant elongated shape and it was finely woven with smoked bamboo likely circa 1910s-1920s, late Meiji to early Taisho period. The body was constructed with Hexagonal Plaiting for the main body, reinforced with twining in the upper and lower portions. The special design was reserved for an mouth ring with scrolling pattern and the double handles joined by beautiful rattan knots. It retains the interior bamboo holder. Signed on the base "Kochikusai made this". A rare and beautiful example of the artist's work.
For similar work see Object Number: 2006.3.28 and 2006.3.5 in the collection of Asian Art Museum San Francisco.
Reference: Master of Bamboo, Rinn. Page 116. less