Minaudière

This rectangular bag is made of woven bamboo using a pattern found on traditional Japanese baskets. The snap closure is sterling silver as are the two handles on the short sides. Suspended from one handle is a braided, black silk tassle. The interior is lined with black, plain weave cloth. Made in Japan for Tiffany & Co. The basketmaker is Watanabe (born 1932), a distinguished Japanese bamboo artist with a considerable reputation in Japan. His artist’s name, Chikusei, means ‘bamboo purity’. The platinum lacquer was added by Noburo Itsuaki. The assembly of the bags, i.e., the adding of the silk, was done by the Nakao-so Studio, Kyoto.