Taisho (1912-1926) or Showa (1926-1989) era, 1920s Honen ('Fruitful Year'): A handled flower basket of kurochiku or shichiku bamboo ( Phyllostachys nigra ) plaited in free-style openwork twill weave overlaid with further free-style elements, the handle formed from an unsplit culm of natural bamboo secured on each side with elaborate rattan knotting, the otoshi (water container) a facetted and lacquered section of bamboo; signed underneath with incised characters Chikuunsai kore o tsukuru…
