Shimada Chikuhōsai III Hanging Bamboo Flower Basket 'Natasaya', after Rikyū's Own

A hanging tea-room flower basket in the 'natasaya' (hatchet-sheath) form, made by the third-generation Kyoto basket maker Shimada Chikuhōsai after a basket owned by Sen no Rikyū.

Rikyū, the 16th-century founder of wabi tea, chose humble baskets such as this narrow sheath-shaped kago to hang on the alcove post for chabana, the spare flower arrangements of the tea room. Shimada Chikuhōsai's workshop carries out every stage itself, from splitting the bamboo through weaving, dyeing and wiped-lacquer finishing. A bamboo water liner (otoshi) is fitted inside so that fresh flowers can be used. Each basket is woven by hand, so dimensions vary slightly.

Details

• Maker: Shimada Chikuhōsai III (三代 島田竹宝斎), Kyoto
• Form: 利休所持写 鉈鞘籠 (natasaya kago, after Rikyū's own), hanging type
• Material: bamboo basket with bamboo otoshi liner
• Size: approx. W 13 × D 8 × H 29.5 cm
• Box: paper box
• Condition: new (the shop notes a lead time of about 3 weeks if out of stock)

Watch: the art of Japanese bamboo basketry

A digest from the Japan Kogei Association recording the bamboo-craft techniques of Living National Treasure Katsushiro Soho. (A general craft video — not this piece or maker.)

Please read before ordering

• Limited availability. We confirm availability with the dealer in Japan within one business day of your order; if it has sold we refund in full immediately.
• Ships from New Jersey in 2–3 weeks. Price includes all import duties. Fully insured, signature required.