Masters of Bamboo

Masters of Bamboo: Japanese Baskets and Sculpture from the Cotsen Collection
(February 2–May 6, 2007)

Connoisseurs and collectors have long regarded Japanese bamboo baskets as art objects of great sophistication and beauty. In 2002, the Asian Art Museum acquired almost nine hundred objects from the Lloyd Cotsen Japanese Bamboo Basket Collection, recognized as one of the largest and most notable collections of its kind in the world. This exhibition featured approximately seventy artworks from the collection—some created by masters designated in Japan as “Living National Treasures”—offering visitors a revealing look at their extraordinary beauty and intricate craftsmanship, as well as the historical and cultural importance of this unique art form.

Masters of Bamboo: Japanese Baskets and Sculpture from the Cotsen Collection was organized by the Asian Art Museum.