I'm just back from the Art Basel and Design Miami shows in Miami Beach. It's probably the largest art show in the world. As always, I looked for trends and the use of antiques in modern art. Seen at the show: a 3-foot-high modern "memory jar" decorated with antique plates, figurines, broken platters and small dolls. Also seen: an antique lacy carved chair from India with a red plastic "leather" seat topped by a neon "stop" sign. Droog, a Dutch design firm that likes to alter old things, offered a wooden kitchen chair from about 1910 that's covered with fuzzy white paint and light blue floral designs. Prices were high for everything. Each of the things I've mentioned must have cost over $10,000. Modern Japanese basketry vases were selling for up to $30,000. By comparison, antique Japanese baskets are bargains.
5 comments:
I'm curious to know what the attendance was like and how sales were.
We have some antique ikebana baskets, but we are unfamiliar with "modern Japanese basketry vases." Are these the bamboo sculptured pieces of "sculpture" being created these days. Do you have any pictures of examples?
Thank you. James
I have the same question - what is the difference between "modern Japanese basketry vases" and antique baskets?
Mary
The sales and the attendance were up. Many dealers we spoke to said they were very pleased and plan to come back next year. Since we wee told booths rent for $40,000 or more they must have sold a lot.
The modern Japanese baskets are amazing. Sorry I didn't take pictures. They are normal basketry, woven bamboo strips or reeds but the shapes are very organic, not like the old ikebana basketry vases. Most of the new baskets were more sculpture than vases, swirling sides and small holes. They probably couldn't hold water because there was no internal container. Maybe someone can find a gallery that sells the new baskets online.
I did some searching and found great pictures of baskets on the site Tai Gallery/Textile Arts. Take a look.
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