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Tanabe Ichikikusai 一竹斎 - Vintage Handcrafted Sculptural Bamboo Ikebana Basket with Bamboo Insert - Japan - 1990s
by田辺一竹斎 Tanabe Ichikikusai (1910-2000)

Shipping method: DHL Express

This finely crafted Japanese bamboo flower basket bears an incised signature reading “Ichikikusai” (一竹斎) on the underside. This signature is associated with works by the renowned Japanese bamboo artist Tanabe Ichikikusai, although in the absence of an original signed storage box or further documentation, the piece may also be described conservatively as a bamboo work bearing the Ichikikusai signature.

The basket is entirely handcrafted from carefully prepared bamboo strips. Its most striking feature is the powerful and highly expressive openwork construction, in which broad and narrow strips of bamboo intersect freely in multiple directions. The irregular yet carefully balanced composition gives the basket a sculptural presence while retaining the refinement characteristic of traditional Japanese bamboo craftsmanship.

The bamboo has developed a rich reddish-brown to deep brown coloration, beautifully emphasizing the natural texture, nodes, and individual character of each strip. The combination of dense weaving around the upper and lower sections with the dynamic openwork body creates an impressive sense of depth and movement.

A removable cylindrical bamboo water container is included. It fits inside the basket and allows the piece to be used traditionally as an ikebana flower vessel.

The underside bears an incised “Ichikikusai” (一竹斎) signature. This type of signature is associated with the noted bamboo artist Tanabe Ichikikusai. Tanabe Ichikikusai, also known as the second Tanabe Chikuunsai, belonged to an important lineage of Japanese bamboo artists and was recognized for sophisticated bamboo weaving and sculptural basketry.

Based on the Ichikikusai name, if attributed to Tanabe Ichikikusai, the work would date to approximately the 1990s, following his adoption of the Ichikikusai name in 1991.

This is an attractive example of Japanese bamboo art that can be appreciated as an ikebana vessel, tea ceremony accessory, decorative art object, or collectible traditional Japanese craft.


Size
Height: 28.5 cm×Width: 19.5 cm×Depth: 19 cm


Weight
352 g / 0.352 kg


Condition
Good vintage condition with minor surface wear and natural age-related variations in the bamboo. Please examine the photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.


Artist Profile
Tanabe Ichikikusai (1910-2000), also known as the second Tanabe Chikuunsai, was a distinguished Japanese bamboo artist from the renowned Tanabe lineage of bamboo craftsmen.

He succeeded to the Chikuunsai name and developed a sophisticated approach to traditional Japanese bamboo weaving, producing flower baskets and sculptural bamboo works characterized by accomplished craftsmanship and expressive construction.

In 1991, the Chikuunsai name was passed to the next generation, after which he worked under the name Ichikikusai. He continued his artistic activities until his death in 2000.

The incised signature on this basket reads “Ichikikusai” (一竹斎), a signature associated with his works. However, without an original signed box or additional documentation, definitive attribution of this particular basket cannot be independently confirmed.