Morikago, by Chikuunsai I (1877 – 1937)

Morikago or hanging basket for the display of seasonal fruit or flowers.

Morikago or hanging basket used to arrange flowers or seasonal fruits.

Tanabe Tsuneo (original artist name) is the third son of the official physician to the Lord of Amagasaki, near Osaka.

After his apprenticeship with the artist Waichisai, he started out as a freelance in 1901 when his master gave him as his artist name (g?) one of his own names: Chikuunsai, which means "bamboo cloud".

He also studied painting, calligraphy, tea ceremony and ikebana which contributed to the development of his art.

Chikuunsai I settled in Sakai, near Osaka, where ikebana and sencha were most common.

In 1919, he was the first bamboo artist to exhibit alone in Japan, at the Takashimaya department store in Osaka.

It was awarded in 1925 at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris.

Chikuunsai I was also involved in the export of bamboo objects abroad and especially in Germany.

He obtained master's level in the Kagestuan tea ceremony school and founded the Seifu-seizan ikebana school.

Known for his production of Chinese-style karamono basketry, Chikuunsai often drew inspiration from basketry depicted in the works of one of the pioneers of Nanga painting, Yanagisawa Kien (also known by his Chinese-style name of Ry? Rikyo, 1704 -1758).

He retained throughout his life a great technical ability and shared his knowledge with many disciples.

He was awarded and rewarded for his work by the Governor of Osaka in 1936.

Tanabe Chikuunsai I was one of the most influential artists, teaching his art to scores of disciples, including his own son, the remarkable Chikuunsai II, and his work was exhibited widely both internationally and in Japan.

Several comparable baskets are present in Museums such as the Metropolitan or the Mineapolis Institute of Art. A copy was exhibited at Quai Branly for the Fendre L 'air exhibition in 2019.

36.5 x 28 cm