Ikebana: The Creative Tradition
Tokyo: Kodansha International Ltd, 1970. First edition. Hardcover. Elephant folio. 168pp. Original pictorial wrappers over cloth with gold-stamped lettering on spine and front cover. Color tipped-in on title page. Overthe lastsixhundredyears, Ikebanahas becomeone ofJapan'straditionalartforms. Buddhismwasintroducedinto Japanduringthe5thand6th centuriesandreligiousfloralofferingswerepartofthe rituals. Bythe15thcentury,thereweredocumentedinstructionsforcomposingandplacingarrangementsandthe idea ofsuitingthearrangement to theseasonortheoccasionwasfirmlyentrenched.Bythelate16thcentury,Ikebana was broughtintothegrandhomesoftheeliteintheTokonoma,alargealcovewherepaintedscrollswerehungonthe wall andIkebanaarrangementsdisplayedonastrawtatamimatwithotheraestheticobjects. Distinctschoolsof Ikebana wereformedasthe artwasstudied,developedandbroadened. Koun Ohara, began holding exhibitions in department stores and other public places, attracting a wide range of attention. He developed practical teaching methods, a systematic classification of expressive techniques and used such modern communication tools as microphones and blackboards. He also originated public demonstrations. These innovations put Ikebana within the reach of ordinary people. Inspired by his father's work, Koun Ohara continued to develop the depiction of nature into one of teh more complicated and unique forms of Ikebana, the Landscape Style. He arranged flowers to express vast scenic views and depicted the appearance of the waterπs edge. This exquisite work is profusely illustrated with 51 full color hand-tipped-in plates (some folded). Very minor creasing along edges of wrappers. Wrappers in overall good+, binding and interior in very good condition. g. Item #28883
Price: $95.00