Hanging vase in the shape of a cicada flower basket

The hanging "cicada" basket is one of the few basket types deemed appropriate for chanoyu, the traditional practice of serving powdered tea that is performed in tearooms such as the one in our Japanese gallery. This type of basket is hung from a post in the alcove to seasonal flowers appropriate for the tearoom. The example here is unusual in that it is made not from bamboo but from bronze.