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An Exceptional Wada Waichisai I Bamboo Sencha Tea Basket, Adair Estate

A finely woven Japanese bamboo sencha tea utensil basket by Wada Waichisai I, with fitted overhanging lid and rich, time-worn patina. The basket is constructed in a combination of intricate plaiting techniques, reinforced by vertical corner supports and embellished with finely worked chevron and decorative knotting. The lid is tightly woven in a twill pattern and finished with a substantial braided rim. Each end is fitted with a pair of braided rattan ring handles suspended from woven loops. The interior is cloth-lined to protect the porcelain tea utensils traditionally carried within. An exceptionally well-crafted example displaying the sophisticated bamboo work for which Waichisai is known.

Provenance: The estate of John Adair Jr. (1942-2025), founder and proprietor of Kurofune Antiques in Tokyo (est. 1978), a world-renowned destination for Japanese basketry, prints and furniture featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Wall Street Journal.