By Hayakawa Shokosai IV (1902-1975), signed and sealed by the artistJapan, 20th centuryThe ovoid body rising to a spreading neck, the mouth with two loop handles below a tall handle, the susudake (smoked bamboo) basket finely woven, mainly utilizing the mat plaiting (gozame-ami) technique, with various patterns creating an appealing contrast. With a reddish-brown lacquered otoshi (water holder) cut from a whole section of bamboo. Signed to the underside SHOKOSAI zo.HEIGHT 49.7 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear.Provenance: British private collection.The wood storage box with hakogaki reading Shokosai zo (Made by Shokosai), with seal Rakusei Shokosai (Shokosai, of the Rakusei area in Kyoto).Hayakawa Shokosai IV (1902-1975) was the eldest son of Hayakawa Shokosai III (1864-1922). Shokosai IV succeeded as Shokosai aged 21, when his father Shokosai III passed away in 1922. After the war, the Shokosai family moved from Osaka to Kyoto where the family continues the basketmaking tradition to this day. The word Rakusei means western Kyoto referring to the Arashiyama and Sagano areas; the studio is located near the Shimogamo shrine, in the Kitaku district, Kyoto. The artist is listed in Earle, Joe (2018) Baskets: Masterpieces of Japanese Bamboo Art 1850-2015, pl. 33-36.Auction comparison:Compare a related bamboo hanakago, also signed Shokosai zo and dated to the Showa period, of slightly larger size and a more rounded, gourd-like shape, at Christie’s, The Pavilion Sale, 2 October 2017, Hong Kong, lot 63 (sold for 25,000 HKD).