FLOWER BASKETS
Basketry has played a prominent role in Japanese society for centuries. Originally as work baskets, then recognizing the beauty of a basket full from gathering flowers, eventually becoming a centerpiece of the home. Traditional families would adorn a single hand-woven bamboo basket in the tokonoma (an alcove which is the focal point of a room) with an Ikebana flower arrangement to express the season, bringing time and nature into their home. Each basket is unique, a marvel of design and technique. For some renowned baskets, provenance can be traced back for centuries. In the late 19th century some artisans began to sign their work and established lineages began as they passed on their knowledge to their children and apprentices, ensuring the art form stayed alive into the modern era.
