Tanabe Chikuunsai II 二代 田辺竹雲斎 (1910-2000)

This beautifully balanced Chinese-style bamboo flower basket exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of Chikuunsai II, a leading figure in Japanese bamboo art. The basket features a rattan-wrapped handle, skillfully woven into the sides of the vessel and elegantly secured near the base with an elaborate strap. The mat-plaited walls extend upwards to a wide, open mouth, encircled by a rattan-wrapped rim that enhances the piece’s structured yet natural form. Resting on a ring made from a single bent bamboo cane, the base is crafted in a chrysanthemum weave, combining openwork and parallel weave patterns. A flat bamboo piece crosses the base, where the artist’s signature is carved with precision.

The basket is accompanied by an otoshi—a water and flower container made from cut, faceted, and lacquered bamboo—as well as its original wooden box, which is inscribed, signed, and sealed. The box’s inscription reads Karamono-utsushi hiroguchi hanakago (Chinese-style flower basket with wide mouth), while the signature inside states Tekisuikyo Chikuunsai tsukuru (Made by Tekisuikyo Chikuunsai).

The Chikuunsai family is one of the most influential lineages in modern Japanese bamboo art. Tanabe Chikuunsai I(1877–1937) founded the family legacy by becoming an independent artist in 1901 after training under Wada Wachisai I, who gave him the name Chikuunsai (meaning "Studio of the Bamboo Cloud"). His exceptional artistry earned him recognition alongside renowned bamboo masters like Iizuka Rōkansai and Yamamoto Chikuryōsai I, with praise even coming from German architect and design theorist Bruno Taut for his outstanding ability.

Born in Sakai City, Osaka, in 1910, Chikuunsai II began studying under his father at an early age, debuting his works at the Teiten National Fine Art Exhibition in 1931. After his father’s passing in 1937, Chikuunsai II took on the family name and expanded the family’s artistic influence, both nationally and internationally. Known for his openwork hexagonal weaving, Chikuunsai II was also celebrated for his command of more formal, classical Chinese-style baskets, as seen in this piece. He passed the family name to his eldest son in 1991, and the Chikuunsai name, now in its fourth generation, continues to be highly regarded in the global art world.

For further reading, Joe Earle's Baskets: Masterpieces of Japanese Bamboo Art 1850-2015 (John Adamson Dist A/C, 2018) offers comprehensive insights into the work of the Chikuunsai family and other bamboo art masters.

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