Basketry Vase

Basketry Vase

Basketry vase with bamboo insert used for nageire style Ikebana flower arranging. A. Split bamboo round basket bulging at middle and slanting inward at rim and base which cluminates into two pairs of "cat's ears". The basketry bottom is woven with groups of four finely split bamboo weavers in an open plain weave. The bottom is supported by two bamboo stiffeners inserted at the corners in the form of an "X". The bottom weavers form the stakes for the body of the basket which has slightly wider wider weavers forming a twill weave that extends two thirds of the way up the basket. A border of twined fine bamboo strips is woven in a thin band at the top of the twilled section. The upper third has a vertical openwork pattern created by crossing pairs of stakes. The twined border weavers extend diagonally upward through the openwork section to create another twined band around the top of the stakes. Two larger pieces of split bamboo sandwich the upper part of the stakes forming a ring held in place by fine strips of bamboo bound in an "X" pattern around the rim. The squared U-shaped handle is held in place on two sides with braided bamboo. There is a node at the apex of the handle. The basket is dyed dark brown and the bound rim is a darker brown with a shiny finish. Removed from the bottom was a piece of strapping tape with the donor's name written in black ink. Remaining on the bottom is the donor's name "Uno" written with black felt tip pen. B. Hollow cylindrical bamboo insert with a node forming the bottom. The interior and exterior are dyed a very dark brown. The interior is varnished. This insert holds water for the flower arrangement. Made in Japan.

1997.030.199