Rice-rinsing colander

Object is a large shallow container made of bamboo. The bowl shaped body is finely woven, with a plain wrapped rim and a slightly flattened bottom. The interior is a yellow/tan color, the exterior is green.

The body is woven in a close weave twining pattern using wide, double wefts and narrow warps. The rim is finished off like many of Mr. Hiroshima’s baskets, where the woven ends are folded over and held between two thick bamboo strips. This is lashed together with wide strips of bamboo, tightly bound to form a rounded rim. An additional thick strip of bamboo is wedged underneath the rim for support.

Maker(s)
Artist: Hiroshima Kazuo 廣島一夫 (Japan, 1915-2013)
Historical period(s)
Heisei era, 1995
Medium
Bamboo
Dimensions
H x Diam: 14.4 x 58.8 cm (5 11/16 x 23 1/8 in)
Geography
Japan, Miyazaki prefecture, Hinokage
Credit Line
Gift of Nakamura Kunio
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1996.36
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Tool and Equipment
Type

Colander

Keywords
food preparation, Heisei era (1989 - present), Japan
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Object is a large shallow container made of bamboo. The bowl shaped body is finely woven, with a plain wrapped rim and a slightly flattened bottom. The interior is a yellow/tan color, the exterior is green.

The body is woven in a close weave twining pattern using wide, double wefts and narrow warps. The rim is finished off like many of Mr. Hiroshima's baskets, where the woven ends are folded over and held between two thick bamboo strips. This is lashed together with wide strips of bamboo, tightly bound to form a rounded rim. An additional thick strip of bamboo is wedged underneath the rim for support.

Label

This type of tightly woven colander plays a role in the process of preparing cakes of pounded glutinous rice (mochi); the colander is used for draining the raw rice after it has soaked in water and transferring it into the steamer to be cooked.  Hinokage households prepare mochi for festivals for the New Year, 3 March, and 5 May; for spring and autumn festivals at the village shrine; and for family celebrations.  They also use this type of colander for preparing the vegetables used in the elaborate stews (nishime) served at festival gatherings.  Because of its association with food preparation, the colander is stored carefully when not in use; many households have used the same basket for decades.

Collection Area(s)
Contemporary Art, Japanese Art
Web Resources
Whistler's Neighborhood
Google Cultural Institute
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