Japanese baskets weave their way to high sale prices at auction
WHAT: Woven baskets are collected worldwide as an art form. Their design, shape and makeup reflect wide-ranging cultures, themes and beliefs.
After a noted philanthropist and her family chose to bequeath profits from the sale of items in her collection to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, collectors jumped at the chance to buy 100 of the best pieces from her lifetime collection of contemporary decorative arts, including Japanese baskets.
The baskets shown with this column sold for thousands. In the top row, from left to right: “Heart” ($17,500), “Round Purple Bamboo Dragon Bone Flower” ($8,750) and Untitled ($8,125). In front: “Ocean Whirlpool ($13,750) and “Line Constructed Layer Wings” ($18,750). Japanese artisan-made baskets are often unsigned.
MORE: Many are familiar with Native American and early Americana settler baskets, but Japanese baskets reflect a cultural philosophy tied to every aspect of make, from the gathering of materials to design. It’s a subtle concept, as are many Asian values.
The sale offered varied bamboo baskets. Some were commissioned from or made by Living National Treasures of Japan, others by artists descended from generations of basket weavers.
SMART COLLECTORS KNOW: The beauty of buying items fresh from a celebrated collection -- in this case gathered with advice from top experts -- is obvious. Everything is already curated and vetted.
HOT TIP: It’s hard to describe how stellar the collection was, with prime objects from glassmakers (Lino Tagliapietra), furniture makers (Sam Maloof), masters of fiber art, ceramicists (Robert Arneson) and more.
BOTTOM LINE: The sale total was $520,375. Nice work for fewer than 100 items! In addition to the almost 100 lots sold at auction, the owner donated close to 1,000 objects of contemporary decorative arts to the museum during her lifetime.
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