A classic early Tanabe Chikuunsai basket enclosed in the original signed wooden box signed with his early name. That this is signed Shochikusai indicates it was created before he took the family name in 1937. This square form of open vertical slats is a favorite of this artist.The basket is 10 x 17 x 33.5 cm(4 x 6-1/2 x 13 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Tanabe Chikuunsai II (1910-2000) was born in Osaka the son of Tanabe Chikuunsai I and trained under his father.In 1930 he became a member of the Naniwa Ranyukai and exhibited was first accepted into the Teiten (Modern Nitten) National Art Exhibition in 1931, and exhibited there both prior to and following the second world war.He assumed the name of Chikuunsai II on the death of his father in 1937. In 1991 he transferred his studio name to his eldest son, who became Chikuunsai III and took the retirement name Ichikusai. Work by him is held in museums throughout the world including the Metropolitan Museum in New York, Museum of Fine Art in Boston, San Francisco Asian Art Museum and aforementioned Minneapolis among many others.
