Large Antique (Early 20thc) Japanese Bamboo Fruit Basket (Morikago) with Copper Insert

1900 - 1920

Sold by Antik Dragon Japanese & Other Fine Art

Description

Large Antique (early 20thC) Japanese bamboo fruit basket (morikago) with copper insert. Beautifully made and designed it’s constructed with a bent bamboo frame and twill plaits for the body. The bottom of the basket features a double diamond pattern achieved with a variation of plover plait. The bifurcated handles were bundle-plated with a rather free spirit approach and show a poetic suggestion of movement, as if the bamboos were still swaying in the wind. The basket comes with its original copper insert. Surprisingly unsigned but clearly by a master craftsman. Measures 38 x 33cm, bowl height is 12cm (40cm to top of handle).

A morikago is a shallow open basket with a handle and was traditionally used to display fruits, sometimes flowers, during the Sencha tea ceremony. In contrast to Chanoyu, the Sencha ceremony uses loose green tea leaves instead of tea powder. The placement of loose fruits in the basket meant that the pattern of the bottom, which is often elaborate, was meant to be visible.

Lovely condition and patina. A masterpiece.

Physical Dimensions

Height

40cm (15.75")

Width

38cm (14.96")

Depth

33cm (12.99")

Declaration

Antik Dragon Japanese & Other Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1000113

Dealers Internal Reference

AD675

Description

Large Antique (early 20thC) Japanese bamboo fruit basket (morikago) with copper insert.

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Beautifully made and designed it’s constructed with a bent bamboo frame and twill plaits for the body.

Antik Dragon Japanese & Other Fine Art

The bottom of the basket features a double diamond pattern achieved with a variation of plover plait. The bifurcated handles were bundle-plated with a rather free spirit approach and show a poetic suggestion of movement, as if the bamboos were still swaying in the wind. The basket comes with its original copper insert. Surprisingly unsigned but clearly by a master craftsman. Measures 38 x 33cm, bowl height is 12cm (40cm to top of handle).

fig 1. Large Antique (early 20thC) Japanese Bamboo Fruit Basket (Morikago) With Copper Insert — fig 1. Large Antique (Early 20thc) Japanese Bamboo Fruit Basket (Morikago) with Copper Insert

A morikago is a shallow open basket with a handle and was traditionally used to display fruits, sometimes flowers, during the Sencha tea ceremony. In contrast to Chanoyu, the Sencha ceremony uses loose green tea leaves instead of tea powder. The placement of loose fruits in the basket meant that the pattern of the bottom, which is often elaborate, was meant to be visible.

Lovely condition and patina. A masterpiece.