Hanakago in whalebone – Flower basket for ikebana

A rare Japanese whalebone basket (kujirahige) for ikebana flower arrangements. This type of flower basket, called a hanakago, dates from the 19th century or the very beginning of the Taishō era (1912–1926).

Baleen, made from keratin strips taken from baleen whales, was traditionally used in Japanese whaling ports to make everyday objects—combs, boxes, and household utensils. For braiding, the slabs were first softened by soaking, then split into very thin strips. These were then braided using both heat and moisture, achieving the flexibility needed for patterns as complex as those on bamboo, while retaining the resilience and unique luster of dry baleen.

The baleen flower baskets are a rare exception in this utilitarian corpus. Their creation required exceptional skill: each strip had to be calibrated to adapt to the tensions of the weaving, then fixed to prevent any shrinkage or warping during drying. The resulting brown surface with its glossy reflections captures the light and highlights the geometry of the pattern.

This hanakago features a delicately ligatured high handle, curved sides, and a wide opening, perfect for holding a floral arrangement in a tokonoma. Very few comparable examples are known, even in Japan. The Taiji Whale Museum in Wakayama houses a monumental 52 cm high flower basket, one of the few museum parallels recorded.

Dimensions: total height 34 cm; width 28.5 cm; depth 24 cm.