Basketry Vase

Basketry Vase

Basketry vase with insert used for nageire style Ikebana flower arrangement. A. Bamboo basket with rounded sides narrowing into a flared rim and square bottom with four feet and wood U-shaped handle. Stained dark brown with peeling varnish. Bottom is open plain weave with split bamboo weavers supported by two strips of bamboo inserted at the corners in the shape of an "X". At each corner a srip of bamboo ending in a triangular shaped node creates the feet. The strip extends up the sides forming a point where they are inserted into the upper sides of the basket. The bottom weavers form the stakes for the sides. A band of narrow bamboo strips forms a twill weave border at the base and holds the feet in place. A slightly open twill weave pattern is created on the sides by alternating four weavers which go over two stakes and under one. On the front side an iris motif is created with overlayed bamboo strips in the shape of leaves and two blossoms. The upper part of the basket which flares out into the rim has the same twining pattern as the base border. The rim is formed from a ring shaped round piece of bamboo that is wrapped in layers with thin strips of bamboo. The handle is made from four pieces of gnarled wood twigs. The main handle has been joined at the apex with a small nail and two shorter wood supports on the sides are also fastened with nails. The handle is held in place on the rim with small nails and bound with strips of bamboo. On the bottom in two places is the donor's name "Uno" written with black felt tip pen. B. Metal insert made from soldered galvanized metal painted brown on the sides with a shallow tin can adhered inside the top. A small kenzan needle flower holder with metal prongs and a green plastic base is adhered to the bottom of the can with green floral paste. The number 29 is written in red ink on the bottom. Basket made in Japan.

1997.030.200