Japanese Flower Arrangement: A New Illustrated Guide to Mastery
Cultural Studies Crafts & Hobbies Vintage Reference Ikebana Japanese Art Floral Design Coffee-Table Art Book
Japanese Flower Arrangement: A New Illustrated Guide to Mastery is the 1972 first-edition hardcover that serious collectors and ikebana enthusiasts consistently hunt for. Written by Wafu Teshigahara, headmaster of the Sōgetsu school, this vintage reference distills centuries of Japanese aesthetics into step-by-step photographs, line drawings, and color plates that show exactly how to balance line, form, and space. Unlike later reprints, the 1972 issue preserves the original dust-jacket art and the oversized trim that lets every floral composition breathe on the page, making it both a practical manual and a striking coffee-table piece.
What makes this copy especially appealing is its clean, unmarked interior: no inscriptions, no underlining, no dog-eared corners—just tight, bright pages that invite daily use or display. The dust jacket shows only minor scuffing commensurate with age, while the cloth cover beneath remains sturdy and square, ensuring the book will hold up to another fifty years of consultation. For florists, event stylists, or mindfulness practitioners, the detailed lessons on wild field flowers, seasonal garden blooms, and classical structures offer endless inspiration that modern tutorials rarely match.
Because first-edition Sōgetsu texts in collectible condition are increasingly scarce, this volume is an asset that typically appreciates each year. Whether you’re building a design library, curating a Japanese-culture shelf, or searching for a singular gift for a lover of minimalism and nature, this illustrated guide delivers both practical technique and enduring visual beauty.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
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