A large woven bamboo basket by Yamashita Kochikusai enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hobichiku Hanamori. This has a simple but elegant elongated shape finely woven with smoked bamboo dating from the late Meiji to Taisho periods. The body was constructed with Hexagonal Plaiting for with a bamboo branch handle attached with firm knotting. It is 63.5 cm (over 2 feet) tall and in excellent condition, signed on the base and retaining the original Otoshi bamboo insert.
Yamashita Kochikusai (1876-1947) was a prominent Japanese bamboo artist, particularly known for his ikebana flower baskets and decorative objects. He apprenticed under Wada Waichisai I (1851-1901), and later established his own independent studio in 1901. He was active member of the bamboo fraternity, exhibiting with the Naniwa Ran'yūkai (Osaka Friends of Basketry) and the Osaka Kōgeiten (Osaka Craft Exhibition). He garnered numerous prizes and was patronized by the Imperial Household. His students include Ezono Chikubisai, Suzuki Gengensai and Inose Kohosai. His work is characterized by elegant designs and fine craftsmanship, often using smoked bamboo (susutake) and techniques like hexagonal plaiting as in this basket.
