Flower arranging basket in an octagonal form with a loop-style handle. Woven of split, honey-toned bamboo and rattan, with deep red-brown, split and smoked bamboo overlays and handle. Signed on the reverse with an incised signature by the artist: Hosai Sanjin or Hermit Hosai (Iizuka Hosai II, 1872 – 1934). Showa 6 or 1931.

With the tomobako or original box, inscribed on the exterior of the lid: Kochiku Jidai Tei-ran or Antique Bamboo (Flower Basket with) Handle; and on the reverse of the lid dated: Kanreki Kinen or In Celebration of my 60th Birthday (1931), and signed: Hosai O(kina) Kore wo Tsukuru or Made by Revered Old Man Hosai, and sealed: Hosai Koji.

Hosai creates here a dramatic study in contrasts. Choosing to work in an octagonal, regular geometry, he emphasizes the form by overlaying each edge with richly toned and glossy dark, smoked bamboo, over which he runs lines of lighter, honey-toned, rattan ornamental knotting. A high waist is inset to create a subtle hour-glass effect. For the background plaiting, he cuts the stays of bamboo in relatively broad widths and then uses a geometric compound lozenge plaiting (sashi hishime ami) to powerful, visual effect. Long lines of insect wrapping (mushi-maki) alternate with simple wrapping (bo-maki) at the edges. Other ornamental knotting includes: simple cross knots (juji-musubi), rice character stitch (kome-no-ji-dome), and elaborate variations of cross knots attaching the handle sections to the rim. Repeating lozenge-form cut-out sections of smoked bamboo ornament the high waist, echoed by similar pierce-work openings in the handle, and lappets at the base and rim.

The form and scale of the weaving imbue the basket with a sense of powerful mass, intensified by the play of color and dramatic use of the gleaming overlays. The effect is brilliant and compelling, with a presence that reflects a master artist working at the peak of his abilities.

With the original tsutsu or water container for the interior of the basket, cut from a cylinder of bamboo, the exterior surface scored vertically with a knife and stained a brown color, the interior lined in copper.