Maeda Chikubōsai I (1872-1950)

Hanakago with natural bamboo handle

Otoshi

Hakogaki "Kigen nisen roppyaku nen shoto, Sen’yo Kuzenosato, Chikubosai tsukuru kore"
This is made by Chikubosai, Kuzenosato, Sen’yo, in the 2600th Imperial Year (Showa 15, 1940)

Maeda Chikubōsai I was one of the most important bamboo artists working in the first half of the 20th century.

Late in the Taishō era (1912-1926), he made presentation baskets on behalf of the Imperial Household, for which he became famous.

Chikubōsai held a series of one-man exhibitions at the Mitsukoshi Department Store in Tokyo from 1926 until the late 1930s.

He was pivotal in promoting individual expression in the bamboo arts.

His son, Maeda Chikubōsai II (1917-2003), was the third bamboo artist to be designated a Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuhō) in 1995.