A fine bamboo basket by the first generation Tanabe Chikuunsai enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hanamori. It is 24.5 cm (roughly 10 inches) diameter, 40 cm (16 inches) to the top of the looping handle and retains the original bamboo otoshi (insert).
Tanabe Chikuunsai I (1877–1937) was a pioneering Japanese bamboo basket artist renowned for elevating techniques in his youth and later merged them with influences from Chinese and Japanese aesthetics. Chikuunsai specialized in creating intricate, functional baskets for the tea ceremony, blending practicality with artistic sophistication. His work often reflected natural themes, showcasing refined forms and precise craftsmanship. Chikuunsai’s legacy established the Tanabe lineage of bamboo artists, with successive generations continuing to innovate within the tradition he founded.
