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Sōzen-type Flower Basket

Artist Shōno Shōunsai (Japanese, 1904–1974)
Title Sōzen-type Flower Basket
Date 1955–1965
Medium Shichiku
Dimensions Overall: 11 3/4 × 10 1/2 × 8 in. (29.8 × 26.7 × 20.3 cm)
Vase: 4 3/8 × 2 1/2 in. (11.1 × 6.4 cm)
Credit Line Gift of Ann Shilling Harrison in memory of Wade C. “Rusty” Harrison II, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University
Accession Number 2019.144

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About this Work

This basket, which was modeled after a prototype attributed to the tea master Hisada Sōzen (1647–1707), conveys a distinctly Japanese aesthetic of bamboo craft. It was made by Shōno Shōunsai, a leading bamboo artist of the postwar period known for his groundbreaking experimental sculptures. Later in his career, he moved away from complex plaiting techniques to focus on the inherent beauty or spirit of bamboo. He became the first bamboo artist to receive the prestigious title of Living National Treasure in 1967.


Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

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"Sōzen-type Flower Basket | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=2019.144