Vintage Japanese Bamboo Hanakago (Ikebana Flower Basket), Early Showa 1927-1945 | SKU: 26M-132

Vintage Japanese Bamboo Hanakago (Ikebana Flower Basket), Early Showa 1927-1945 | SKU: 26M-132

A dramatic double-form bamboo hanakago cradled in a lacquered root-wood frame -- an extraordinary example of vintage Japanese craft at its most expressive.

A hanakago is a traditional Japanese flower basket used in ikebana -- the art of Japanese flower arranging -- to hold a water vessel (suibin) and display seasonal blooms. This exceptional example is composed of two woven bamboo forms: a broad, open-mouthed lower vessel and a tightly wound upper gourd-shaped body, the two joined along a dramatic root-wood armature that doubles as handle and stand. The bamboo strips, split fine and woven in varied patterns across the two forms, have aged to a rich reddish-brown, while the gnarled natural-root framework has been lacquered to a deep, almost black finish -- a contrast that is unmistakably wabi-sabi in spirit. A ceramic liner is visible inside the lower vessel, confirming its original function as a working ikebana basket. This is handcrafted Japanese vintage basketry of the highest ambition, where the boundary between functional object and sculpture is deliberately dissolved.

Today this hanakago makes a breathtaking living room accent piece displayed on a shelf, console table, or tokonoma-inspired alcove. Stand a single dried branch or preserved botanical stem in the upper form and leave the lower vessel open as a sculptural counterpoint -- it is a ready-made Japandi style composition requiring no further styling. It also works beautifully as a statement centerpiece on a dining or entryway table, or as a gift for collectors of Japanese vintage folk art and wabi-sabi decor. Few pieces command attention so effortlessly while remaining deeply rooted in Japanese craft tradition.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1927-1945 (Early Showa)
• Material: Woven bamboo strips; natural root-wood armature with lacquer finish; ceramic liner insert
• Use: Ikebana flower basket (hanakago) -- designed to cradle a water vessel and display seasonal flower arrangements
• Modern Use: Living room sculptural accent or Japandi-style shelf display; dried botanical or branch display vessel; statement centerpiece for entryway or dining table
• Features: Double-form composition -- open lower vessel and a tightly woven gourd-shaped upper body; varied weave patterns across both forms; dramatically gnarled root-wood frame serving as handle, cradle, and footed stand; rich reddish-brown bamboo patina against deep lacquered root-wood; ceramic liner intact inside lower vessel
• Dimensions: 9"W x 16"D x 15"H
• Condition: Excellent

A masterwork of vintage Japanese bamboo craft -- equal parts ikebana vessel and wabi-sabi sculpture, and a singular conversation piece for any interior.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All vintage items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.