SHONO SHOUNSAI (1904-1974)
Showa era (1926–1989), 1950s-1960sA basket for serving sweets in the form of a winnowing tray, the bamboo plaited chiefly in gozame (mat) weave with double verticals, the curved base stabilized by a split bamboo culm secured by rattan knots, the edges with rattan knotting, signed underneath with incised characters Shounsai kore o tsukuru (Shounsai made this); with wood tomobako storage box inscribed and signed Minogata morikago (Sweet basket in the shape of a winnowing tray); Shounsai, sealed: Shounsai, and with the label of the Yamasho basket shop (in Beppu, Oita Prefecture) recording the artist's honours and achievements. 8cm x 26.7cm x 27.5cm (3 1/8in x 10 1/2in x 10 3/4in). (2).
注脚
The first bamboo artist to be named (in 1967) a Ningen Kokuho (Living National Treasure), Shono Shounsai began his training in 1923 under the short-lived bamboo genius Sato Chikuyusai (1901-1929). He came to national prominence in 1956 when he exhibited his monumental work Doto (Angry Wave), but most of his work is characterized by deceptively simple forms fashioned from meticulously selected and prepared raw materials.