Eocene Arts

This basket by Chikuyosai has an unusually compact elegance. Little is known of Chikuyosai, though based on the style of his basketry he was evidently based in the Kansai area. Body weave is very precise and firm, as it is constructed of a tight mesh-like hexagonal plaiting complicated by intertwining horizontals. At base and shoulder the weave shifts to mat plaiting, offering an inviting shift in texture. The rim is twined and bound with rattan. This basket also features an unusual vertical center decoration on front and back. Overall, the basket has a graphic quality to it - the shifts of form and weave have the clarity of a bird's plumage.