Vintage Japanese Ikebana Flower Basket, 1946 - 1965 (Mid Showa) | SKU: 26M-892

Japanese Ikebana Flower Basket | Vintage Woven Bamboo Vase & Living Room Accent, 1946-1965 (Mid Showa), SKU 26M-892

A handcrafted ikebana flower basket of exceptional delicacy -- tightly wound bamboo strips, a squared arching handle, and a removable bamboo water tube, all in warm honey-amber tones.

An ikebana kago is a traditional Japanese flower arranging basket used as the outer vessel in the practice of ikebana -- the centuries-old Japanese art of mindful floral arrangement. Rather than holding water directly, this style of basket is designed to cradle a separate inner water container, here a smooth hollow bamboo tube, allowing cut stems to drink while the open lacework of the basket frames the arrangement with an airy, sculptural quality. Crafted during the Mid Showa era, this handcrafted Japanese bamboo basket showcases the refined skill of a practiced basket maker: fine bamboo strips are wound in a closely spaced vertical pattern around the flared, tapered body, secured at the rim with tightly bound rattan lashing, while the squared two-post handle rises high above the basket and is joined at the crossbar with a neat coil of natural bamboo binding. The woven base is finished in a classic herringbone weave, a detail that speaks to the care invested in every part of this vintage Japanese craft object.

Today this striking ikebana basket translates beautifully into modern interiors far beyond its original ceremonial purpose. Displayed with a single stem of dried pampas grass or a branch of seasonal foliage, it becomes an instant living room accent perfectly suited to a Japandi style or wabi-sabi aesthetic. The tall, slender silhouette and warm amber bamboo tones also make it an elegant entryway decor piece -- place it on a console table with a sculptural dried arrangement for a welcoming first impression. It also works as a unique gift for Japanophiles or collectors who appreciate vintage Japanese craft and the quiet beauty of natural materials.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Smoked bamboo strips (basket body and handle); natural rattan lashing at rim and handle crossbar; removable hollow bamboo tube inner container
• Use: Ikebana flower arranging basket; outer vessel designed to hold a separate inner water container for cut flower display
• Modern Use: Living room or entryway accent with dried or fresh botanical stems; decorative display object in Japandi or minimalist decor; unique gift for collectors or Japanophiles
• Features: Tall tapered body with closely spaced vertical bamboo strip weave; herringbone-woven base; neatly lashed circular rim; squared two-post arching handle with bound crossbar; includes separate removable hollow bamboo tube water container
• Dimensions: 5"W x 6"D x 13 1/2"H
• Condition: Excellent

A rare and beautifully preserved piece of vintage Japanese craft -- this ikebana bamboo basket brings the meditative elegance of Japanese floral tradition into any modern home.

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 and antique 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.