KOSUGE CHIKUDO (ATTR.): A BAMBOO AND RATTAN ‘HOTEI CHIKU’ HANAKAGO (FLOWER BASKET)

Attributed to Kosuge Chikudo (1895-1966), unsigned
Japan, Showa period (1926-1989)

Of cylindrical slightly ovoid form with a narrow base and slightly flaring rim, the basket is constructed from vertical strips of richly smoked bamboo. The rim is reinforced with a robust plaited braid, from which rises an elegantly arched handle composed of intertwined bamboo strands, secured with intricate bindings at the sides.

HEIGHT 36.5 cm

Provenance: A private collection of bamboo flower baskets in Florida, United States purchased from Gallery Sabian in Japan.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and few non-distracting, slightly loosened bamboo strands.

With a wood tomobako (storage box) with hakogaki inscription: Hotei-chiku, Hanakago, 布袋竹、花籃, [Bamboo basket, made with Phyllostachys aurea].

Kosuge Chikudo (1895–1966) was a prominent Japanese bamboo artisan based on Sado Island whose work made a lasting mark in the development of 20th-century bamboo art. He founded a distinctive regional lineage, and his approaches influenced the manner in which bamboo baskets combined functional integrity with artistic expression. Chikudo drew inspiration from the Iizuka workshop traditions of Tochigi and Tokyo, which emphasized aesthetic contrast between finely woven plaiting and simpler structural elements. His sons, including Kogetsu Chikusai, carried forward and expanded his legacy, introducing innovative techniques while maintaining fidelity to Chikudo’s foundational principles. Today, the Kosuge lineage is regarded as part of the important network of Japanese bamboo weaving schools, especially in the Niigata–Sado region.

Phyllostachys aurea is a species of bamboo and known for its use in making various crafts, including some types of Japanese baskets. It's often called ‘hotei chiku’ because the knotty, bulged appearance of its culms resembles the belly of the mythological Hotei, one of the Seven Lucky Gods. While the name refers to a specific bamboo species, in the context of crafts, it's representative of the general category of Japanese bamboo weaving, which is renowned for its skill and artistry.

Auction comparison:
Compare a related bamboo and rattan hanakago by the son of the artist, Kosuge Kogetsu, 84 cm (high), at Bonhams, Modern Design, 27 March 2024, Los Angeles, lot 223 (sold for GBP 2,560 or approx. EUR 2,300 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).