Zulu Ilala Palm Baskets - 12397 - Ukhamba

Shopping

My Account

Login

Returns

Privacy Policy

Basket Information

About Us

Contact Us

Shopping Cart

View Contents

Items: 0

Total: $0.00

Checkout

Detail View

Scroll Down to See Description

Ukhamba 11 Inches Tall
12397

Approx 11 inches Tall X 7.5 inches Wide

To create this traditional basket, weavers use strips of naturally waxy palm fronds wrapped around coils of wild grasses. Some baskets are can still used for holding liquid in the most rural areas of South Africa. Watertight baskets are readied by rubbing wet cornmeal inside. When liquid is added, the coils swell. Some leaks through, evaporates, and cools the contents.

Designs carry cultural significance and many large baskets are traditionally given at weddings. All natural vegetable dyes are made from materials as diverse as flower petals and mud. Some colors are very rare due to difficulty in obtaining enough of the dying materials, other colors are only available certain times of year when specific flowers bloom or other conditions are satisfied to produce the materials used in the creation of the dyes.

Collection of these baskets in Zululand, South Africa is challenging to say the least. Hundreds of miles are driven on dirt roads to go village to village and hut to hut collecting baskets from each individual weaver.

The quality of weaving, size of basket, rarity of colors and difficulty of pattern all combine to determine prices on these stunning creations. Because there are so many pricing variables considered by the weavers, it's quite possible to find some baskets at lower prices that are larger in size than smaller, more expensive baskets.

You will receive the exact basket pictured here.

$80.00 In Stock (1)