VINTAGE CHINESE DECORATIVE HAND BASKET

Description

Vintage Chinese Hand Bag
Basket.  The bag itself is small in square shape.  It's the top cover, which is attached to the bag, that dominates with its conical center that spreads out to form a singular umbrella-like shape readily identified with Chinese style.
R
attan and bamboo.  Plaited construction.
Very tightly woven, the basket is purely utilitarian yet made meticulously, fine craftsmanship that gets the task at hand done.  A hand bag is now usually made of real or fake (plastic) leather, and increasingly, plant fiber once again for environmental reasons.
We forget that there have always been rich and vibrant indigenous traditions in Asia (and throughout the world) of wicker bags made from the same basketry materials:  Rattan, bamboo, and plant fiber, in dazzling combinations that showcase each culture's creativity and craftsmanship.  The hand bag is supposed to be a utilitarian object, containing whatever its owner/user deems fit to put in it.  It is also, always, a fashion and status statement, and the most beautiful bags are elaborately and meticulously made not so much to use, but to show off, trotted out only for very special or ceremonial occasions, with nothing in them.  The ancient and royal cultures of China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand have just such remarkable cultures:  Bags that took up to six months to make, one at a time, affordable only by the elite and newly rich.
Fine.  It is, quite simply, the nicest specimen of its kind I have ever seen:  A model of simplicity, practicality, and elegance that characterize Chinese
basketry at its best. Beautiful patina, smooth to one’s touch.  Looks and feels smooth and shiny.  Please note that the tiny wood pin that locks the top in place is no longer present, and has not been for some time.  I hesitate to replace it because it will stand out on its own for being a new addition
(but you can if so desired)
.  Whether as a collectible/part of a basket collection, a container for your small objects such as keys or jewelry, or a "stand-alone" display/accent piece, this is a beauty.  No contemporary repair.
Regular
size: 7.5 inches (length/height) X 5 inches (weight/diameter).
It is not especially heavy (about 2 pounds) but is irregularly-sized.  USPS will charge shipping on the basis of both its weight AND dimensions.
"The importance of ethnic and tribal art cannot be overstated. Its complex history with Modernism is intriguing and complex. Each informs the other. For anyone interested in how the human mind is compelled to make experience tangible, then one must consider this art. Look at it, wonder about it, live with it, be inspired by it, and let it broaden your world” (Douglas Dawson).
PLEASE NOTE:  I MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO DESCRIBE ANY FLAW OR IMPERFECTION, IF THERE ARE ANY.  HOWEVER, ANTIQUE, VINTAGE, AND OTHERWISE OLD PIECES NATURALLY HAVE IMPERFECTIONS, WHICH ENHANCE, NOT DETRACT FROM, THEIR VALUE AND AUTHENTICITY.  IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR PERFECTION, YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY BUYING AND COLLECTING ANTIQUES OR VINTAGE PIECES, AND THE POINT OF BUYING AND COLLECTING IS HAPPINESS.  EVERYTHING ELSE IS PLAIN LIFE.
SHIPPING IS BASED ON WEIGHT, SHIPPING METHOD (ECONOMY OR PRIORITY/EXPEDITED) THAT YOU SELECTED, AND YOUR ADDRESS/DESTINATION.  AS A GENERAL RULE, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME ABOUT SHIPPING COST IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE YOUR SAVINGS.
FOREIGN COLLECTORS WELCOME.  PLEASE CONTACT ME FIRST BEFORE BUYING, MAKING AN OFFER, OR PAYING BECAUSE USPS HAVE CHANGED ITS POLICIES WITH REGARD TO INTERNATIONAL PARCELS.
Please note: I am unable to ship abroad using First Class Letter Mail or Air Mail Parcel Post as NEITHER service is trackable, which is now a mandatory requirement of both Paypal and eBay for all of my transactions.  The reason: Far too many items, including postcards I have shipped using Letter Mail in the past, were either lost in transit or reported by their buyers as "Item Not Received".  This is quite a hassle, and is simply not worth it.  So the cheapest shipping method wherever available, is via either USPS Priority Mail Flat-Rate Envelope or USPS Priority Mail Box, which includes Tracking, Delivery Confirmation, and Full Insurance.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
I DO
NOT
MAKE MONEY ON SHIPPING, BUT I  CANNOT AFFORD TO SUBSIDIZE IT EITHER.  PAYMENT DUE UPON COMPLETION OF SALE.