Japanese Baskets

A precious volume showcasing the most exquisite Japanese bamboo baskets from the Naej Collection, whose pieces range from the seventeenth century to today.

Bamboo wickerwork is one of the oldest traditional art forms of Japan: Since the eight century, finely woven bamboo baskets have been used in Buddhist liturgy and later in the tea ceremony. Over the centuries, these fine containers became covetable objects, used as vases to present ikebana creations (the Japanese art of arranging flowers), as vessels to enshrine all sorts of precious possessions, or as decorative objects. Today, bamboo artists create sculptural forms  that are appreciated as major works of contemporary art.

This elegant and richly illustrated volume presents more than 150 baskets from the Naej Collection, including works by the most acclaimed masters of basketry art from 1850 to the present day. The book showcases the spectacular forms of the objects and indulges us in exquisite details such as weaving patterns, elegant signatures of the craftsmen, and intricate undersides. Precise texts and informative captions disclose the secrets of an art that is experiencing a renewed interest as bamboo is a durable, ecological material.

Featuring three different paper stocks and a fine cloth cover, this beautifully presented volume will appeal to design aficionados and lovers of Japanese culture everywhere.Joe Earle is an Asian Art specialist. Former chair of the Asia, Oceania, and Africa department at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, he is now global consultant for Japanese art at Bonhams auction house.