Item Description 九藍（久留米籃胎漆器） Kyuran — Kurume Rantai Lacquerware Kurume Rantai Lacquerware Bamboo Flower Basket with Sculptural Open Weave and Deep Black-Lacquer Finish — by Kyuran This striking flower basket (hana-kago) is a fine example of Kurume Rantai Lacquerware (Kurume Rantai Shikki), a traditional craft of Fukuoka Prefecture designated as a Fukuoka Prefectural Governor's Special Craft. Bearing the label of Kyuran, one of Kurume's leading rantai workshops, the basket showcases the dual mastery of the bamboo weaver and the lacquer artisan — the two distinct crafts that define this tradition. The body is woven from thin strips of moso bamboo in a bold, free-flowing open weave, with broad flat strips crossing diagonally in seemingly spontaneous, layered ribbons. This sculptural form creates dramatic interplay of light and shadow through the open lattice. The braided arched handle, constructed from finely twisted bamboo strands, rises elegantly above the cylindrical body and is secured at the rim. The entire surface is built up through repeated cycles of lacquering and grinding: one coat of black urushi, four coats of red-orange (shu) urushi, and a final black coat are applied, each layer left to cure before the next is added. The outermost black layer is then carefully ground back with a whetstone, revealing the warm crimson beneath at each edge and intersection — the defining mottled pattern of rantai lacquerware that no two pieces replicate exactly. The solid woven base provides stable footing, and the overall form is ideal for ikebana flower arrangement. Rantai lacquerware (籃胎漆器, literally "basket-bodied lacquerware") originated in Kurume in the Meiji era (c. 1885), when lacquer artist Kawasaki Minejo applied traditional hard-ground lacquering to the fine bamboo basketry of the region. Currently, only a handful of workshops in Japan continue to produce authentic rantai lacquerware using domestic bamboo. Size Height: 31 cm (including handle) Diameter: 14 cm Weight: 156 g Include Basket only. Condition In good pre-owned condition; consistent with age and use, with minor surface wear to the lacquer at high-contact points. No breaks or structural damage to the weave. Artist Profile Kyuran (九藍) is a craft brand of Kurume Rantai Lacquerware, based in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture — the historic home of rantai lacquerware and one of the last remaining production centres of this craft using Kyushu-grown native bamboo. The name Kyuran (九藍, "nine indigo") evokes both the Kyushu region and the layered lacquer tradition that defines this craft. The workshop produced works ranging from everyday tableware to fine decorative pieces for many decades. 【Shipping Notice】 Due to the current situation in the Middle East, shipment from Japan may not be possible to certain regions. If delivery to your country is unavailable at the time of purchase, we reserve the right to cancel the order. We kindly ask buyers in affected regions to refrain from placing bids. 【Important Notice】 The item will be carefully packaged and shipped via Japan Post, DHL, or FedEx. Estimated delivery time is about 1–3 weeks. Import duties, taxes, and other charges are not included. Combined shipping with other items is not available. Thank you for your understanding.