Flower basket c. 1920s - 1930s

This flower basket was made by Chikukōen, and you can see it at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Look at this object, so sturdy, made of reddish-brown woven bamboo. The basket itself has a kind of doubled form, doesn't it? Like a vase with a handle. The bamboo has this subtle shine, and it feels like it has been polished, or oiled, or something, until it glows. I like to imagine Chikukōen in their studio, patiently weaving each strip, feeling the give and take of the material in their hands, slowly building something that will contain something else. A beautiful, practical thing. It makes you think about how people exchange ideas across time, inspiring each other to make things. Maybe Chikukōen saw another basket maker do something similar, or maybe they just had the idea themselves. Either way, it's cool to think about how we're all in this conversation together, making stuff and learning from each other. It's the human condition!