Large woven bamboo (hanakago) ikebana basket with handle from the first half of the 20th century, circa 1930, by Japanese bamboo master Maeda Chikubosai I (1872-1950).
Madake (reclaimed bamboo), braiding and knots are used, the large handle is wrapped with a spiral band, the body and handle with decorative knotting passages, signed on the base Chikuyosai kore o tsukuru, and with otoshi (water container) in lacquered bamboo.

Provenance: Private collection, England; acquired from the Sakoda Art Gallery, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo, Japan

Chikubosai I was originally from the Kansai region and active in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. He was educated by Wada Waichisai I (1851-1901).

From 1912, he worked alongside Tanabe Chikuunsai I (1877-1937) producing basketry for export. At the end of the Taisho era, he made baskets for the imperial family, which made him famous.
At the same time, he studied ancient Chinese-style basketry for sencha culture, karamono.

Chikubosai participated in a series of solo exhibitions at Mitsukoshi in Tokyo during the early Showa period, from 1926 until the outbreak of war.

Maeda Chikubosai I is one of the most important bamboo artists of the first half of the 20th century. He played a central role in promoting individual expression in the bamboo arts.

without tomobako (47cm high diameter 20cm)