Dai Williams, Estate of Karin Nelson, and Karin Nelson
Collection place:
Kyōto, Kyoto Prefecture, Kansai region
Culture or time period:
Japanese
Collector:
Dai Williams
Materials:
Rice straw (wefts are made of slightly twisted rice straw, untwisted warps)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Baskets (containers)
Function:
1.2 Gathering
Accession date:
March 20, 2012
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Dimensions:
cord— length 120 centimeters, whole and parts— circumference 90 centimeters, whole and parts— diameter 30.5 centimeters, whole and parts— height 24 centimeters, and whole and parts— weight 854 grams
Comment:
The fugo is provided with a flat base so that it can be freestanding. It was also used in the fields or farmyard to contain hulled rice or small vegetables. The low efficiency of the basket suggests that it was not intended to be carried over long distances except, perhaps, on a balance pole. Rice straw is soft and good for transporting soft skinned fruit. Bamboo baskets used for the same purpose had to be lined with cloth.