A basket of dark red bamboo woven by the 4th generation Hayakawa Shokosai IV enclosed in the original signed wooden box.It is 22.5 cm (9 inches) diameter, 48 cm (19 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Hayakawa Shokosai IV (1902-1975) was the eldest son of Hayakawa Shokosai III (1864-1922). Shokosai IV succeeded as Shokosai aged 21, when his father Shokosai III passed away in 1922. After the war, the Shokosai family moved from Osaka to Kyoto where the family continues the basketmaking tradition to this day. Shokosai I (Togoro, 1815–1897) was born in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture in 1815. Togorō, lost his father at the age of 19. He then moved to Kyoto and began apprenticing as a basket craftsman. In 1845 he relocated to Osaka and adopted the name Shokosai. He received numerous accolades, including awards at the First National Industrial Exhibition in 1877 (Meiji 10) and other domestic and international expositions. His work earned the distinction of being purchased by the Empress herself. Shokosai II (1860–1905) was the third son of the first-generation Shokosai, born with the name Takejirō, he succeeded to the title in 1897 (Meiji 30). He won second prize at the Fifth National Industrial Exhibition in 1903. His tenure as Shokosai was short, lasting only eight years until his death at 45, resulting in a limited body of work. Shokosai III (1864–1922) was born in Osaka as the fifth son of the first-generation Shokosai, his given name was Eisaburō. After studying under his father, he worked in Tokyo using the name Shōsai. Following his brother’s death in 1905, he returned to Osaka and succeeded as the third-generation Shokosai. He received the Phoenix Crest Award at the 1878 Paris Exposition and continued to garner honors at exhibitions worldwide. In 1887, he was honored by imperial purchase. In 1919, he co-founded the "Naniwa Basket Friends Association," leading Osaka’s bamboo craft scene and becoming a prominent figure in modern bamboo art. Shokosai III excelled in innovative coloring techniques and loose weaving styles, elevating bamboo basket craftsmanship into the realm of fine art. His bold and expressive style emphasized artistic harmony while maintaining an individualistic approach. He served as a member of the Osaka Crafts Association and passed away in 1922 at the age of 59. The Fourth Generation Hayakawa Shokosai IV (1902–1975) was born in 1902 as the son of the third-generation Shokosai, he became chairman of the Bamboo Art Association and was selected for the prestigious Nitten exhibitions. He passed away in 1975 at the age of 73. Hayakawa Sokosai V (1932–2011) was born in 1932 in Osaka as the eldest son of the fourth-generation, he continued the family’s legacy until his passing in 2011.
