Basket for Ikebana called Hanakago Shichiku
Japan
End of the Meiji era (1868-1912)
Bamboo
Height: 16 cm; Width: 23 cm

Woven bamboo basket in the shape of a fully openwork sphere, the neck is slightly off-center, allowing the woven handle to move along the body in a spiral which ends in a ring allowing the basket to be hung.
It retains its small internal hollowed-out bamboo vase called an otoshi.

This basket was reserved for ikebana, which can be translated as floral arrangement, which accompanied the tea ceremony.
The term ikebana is composed of ikeru, meaning "to live," and hana, meaning "flower." Thus, ikebana is the art of giving life to flowers in a carefully chosen and visually appealing arrangement.
Furthermore, special properties are attributed to bamboo, which is even considered to be a support for the spirit.

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON

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