Group of Three Japanese Bamboo Ikebana #1) antique Japanese bamboo Ikebana with handle and made of a dark smoked bamboo (susutake). The body is hexagonal plaited (mutsume-ami) from bottom to top with strips of bamboo randomly threaded through the weave to create abstract patterns. The inside of the basket is lined in natural banana leaf acting like a canvas for what is going on in front. The handle is made of three strips of bamboo loosely wrapped. Measuring 17 inches high by 12 inch diameter. #2) Antique Japanese bamboo Ikebana basket made of variegated smoked bamboo (susutake). The basket is twill plaited (ajiro-ami) changing the width and at times even the angle of the wefts to create different patterns on the body of the basket. Twining (nawa-ami) is introduced to accent some of these changes in the twilling. The warps are continued to the top where they are wrapped to create the rim (tomobuchi). The handle is made from bamboo cordage twisted and braided into rope.Measuring 22 1/2 inches by 7 1/2 inch diameter. #3) Japanese flower basket (hanakago) made of smoked bamboo (susutake). The basket is twill plaited (ajiro-ami) in a regulated lozenge pattern from the bottom through the base of the body. The warps and wefts are merged into elements stacked four thick and the twill plaiting (ajiro-ami) is continued more naturally towards the top where they are manipulated to form a tomobuchi rim. Extra wefts are introduced at all different angle into the looser half to strengthen the body and to make that part appear spontaneous. Four thick strips of bamboo (haritake) are inserted into the base and extend past the bottom as legs for the basket to stand on. The bottom has bamboo inserts (haritake) added for support.Measuring 17 1/2 inches high by 9 1/2 inch diameter.