Description

Antique woven bamboo vase & base 19th Century

Origin: Japan

Mid/End 19th Century artisanally woven bamboo vase

Hand DOT (tip of brush) painted decoration on bamboo

Size : vase & base : 85 cm H

More information

Bamboo weaving (takeami) is a form of bambooworking (takezaiku) and a traditional Japanese craft (kōgei), with a range of different applications, weaving styles and appearances. Japanese bamboo weaving is particularly well known for its use in basket weaving.

As is similar in other Japanese crafts, the acquisition of knowledge usually involved a lengthy apprenticeship with the master of the workshop, often the father of the young disciple, in a system called shitei. Learning the basic skills and techniques generally takes five to ten years, but mastering them and developing an individual style can require decades.

While some bamboo works can be completed in several weeks, others take many months, and exhibition pieces often require longer, sometimes a year or two. Bamboo arts have a low profile compared to ceramics, mainly because of the comparatively low number of artisans, and the amount of time it takes to finish an object.

The bamboo vase on sale has a marking underneath: 和一斎

This relates to the Osaka-based Japanese bamboo artist Wada Waichisai (1851-1901) who established an important and long-lasting lineage of masters. He was known for his precise, delicate plaiting techniques, making primarily karamono baskets and flower vases.