Hayakawa Shōkosai IV 四代 早川尚古斎 (1902-1975)

We are pleased to present a rare early work by the highly esteemed bamboo artist Hayakawa Shōkosai IV, who played a significant role in the preservation and revival of Japanese bamboo art. Shōkosai IV was rigorously trained by his father, Hayakawa Shōkosai III (1864–1922), a notoriously strict teacher. In fact, Shōkosai III destroyed all of his son's early works during the training process to push him towards perfection. Tragically, Shōkosai IV’s life was marked by the sudden death of his father in 1922, which thrust him into the role of the official heir to the family’s celebrated bamboo art workshop at the young age of 20.

This particular piece, a basket for serving food or sweets (morimono-kago), is a remarkable example of Shōkosai IV's early craftsmanship. Signed underneath, the basket is further inscribed and dated inside the lid of its original storage box, noting its creation in the winter of 1926 (Taishō hei'in chūtō). As a rare early work, it reveals the emerging talent of the young artist, who was already demonstrating the masterful skill and creativity that would define his career.

The basket features a round base woven in a hexagonal pattern, while the sides are meticulously woven in a twill pattern, highlighting the artist's attention to detail and skill. The handle is attached with two bent and twisted young bamboo stems, introducing a more informal, Japanese element to balance the otherwise formal, Chinese-inspired aesthetic of the piece. This blending of styles exemplifies Shōkosai IV’s ability to innovate while honoring tradition.

The Hayakawa family, regarded as the founding fathers of modern bamboo art in Japan, has left an indelible mark on the craft. Shōkosai IV played a particularly crucial role during one of the most challenging periods in Japanese history. He not only protected the family tradition and bamboo craft through the turbulence of World War II but also revived the business in its aftermath. In a strategic move, Shōkosai IV relocated the workshop to Kyōto and focused on creating baskets for green tea ceremonies (both Sencha and Chanoyu), a choice that cemented the Hayakawa family’s reputation in the post-war period.

For more detailed insights into the rich history of Japanese bamboo art and the remarkable legacy of the Shōkosai family, we recommend Joe Earle's Baskets: Masterpieces of Japanese Bamboo Art 1850-2015 (John Adamson Dist A/C, 2018).

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