Basketry Vase

Basketry Vase

Basketry vase with plastic cup insert used for nageire style Ikebana flower arrangement. A. Flat bottomed bamboo basket with wide base sides that taper toward the flaring neck and a braided rim. The bottom start is formed by split-bamboo strips in the pattern of radiating spokes which extend to the rim as stakes for the weavers. The bottom is a plain weave with a simple over-one under-one pattern. The outer portion of the bottom is woven with strips of bamboo which are more finely split than those at the center. The sides of the basket are woven with wider strips woven in a primarily over-one under-one pattern but at places is woven over-two under-one. At the base and neck the weavers are finely split. The rim finish is braided. The squared U-shaped handle is wider at the top at angles inward to attach to the base. Two wide strips of bamboo are inserted into the basket sides approximately 3 3/4" apart at the basket's base. The strips gradually angle toward each other so that the top of the handle is a double thickness as the two strips are nested together. These bamboo strips are wrapped with finely split bamboo strips that have been twisted. The entire basket has been spray-painted gray and there are traces of silver paint at the bottom. B. Plastic container with kenzan needle flower holder and pedestal to hold water for arrangement. The pedestal is a plastic champagne cup turned upside-down and adhered to the bottom of the kenzan container with green floral paste. The kenzan has metal prongs with a plastic base. The entire piece has been spray-painted silver except for the interior bottom of the pedestal.

1997.030.204