Featured Identifying this possibly Japanese basket?

Good morning everyone!
I’m wondering if anyone can identify this baskets origins? Thank you so much!

 

Wow, beautiful, Aleutia. It looks Japanese to me, but let's wait for the others.

 

Very lovely!

Welcome here, Aleutia...you're in great company!

 

Yes, it appears to be a nice example of a Japanese basket. Asian baskets aren't really my area of specialty, however, so I can't give more details about age, or much else, other than to confirm that it certainly looks to be Japanese. I don't see any mention of size, however, so that will be important to know.

 

Thank you for the detailed response! If it helps at all, it’s about 7 inches in width and has a height of 6.5 inches

 

I agree, a Japanese basket. It looks like it is made of smoked bamboo, "susudake". This is bamboo that was repurposed from materials recovered from traditional Japanese homes constructed of bamboo and thatch, which had darkened over years of exposure to smoke from hearths within the home. This material has long been highly valued for crafts such as basketry.

The light colored bamboo foot looks a little out of place. I wonder if it is a replacement for an original foot that was damaged, or a later addition to make the basket sit more level.

 

Agreed...but for whatever reason, it was nicely worked-in, with no apparent attempt to artificially 'blend' it into the main basket. Function is beauty, IMHO.

The more I look at it, the better I like it!

 

Japanese Ikebana bamboo basket....

the under weave on the base was added to keep the base fresh and drain the basket should it need it and to stabilize any wobble...

They are tight and tough baskets but due to the wondrous swirling weave, but , over time they can contort out of their original shape..

They are sought after and can be pricy for the really old and complex ones..