Inspired by Basketry

I have always loved baskets. It probably stems from my mother who was quite basket crazy. She would hang them on the walls, take them out in the garden, use them as storage in the kitchen, and even as storage in her hatch-back car. I inherited many of her baskets, but my favorites are her Navajo patterned ones and her old hamper picnic baskets. I just kind of love the handmade look to baskets. 

I decided to create a bracelet that had that woven look to the sides but a sturdy rim. This is a right-angle weave attached to leather using hemp. And for just a touch of an old-world, Egyptian look, I decided to include a brass scarab cabochon as the focal. 

The craft of basketry seems to have changed very little over the centuries. In doing my little history search for this post I came across gorgeous baskets woven today as well as wonderful, rustic antique ones from around the world. You can see my collection on Pinterest, or the Etsy treasury I created below.

Basketry is one of the oldest crafts around originating back to ancient Egypt when materials like grasses, reeds, stalks of flax or twigs were abundant. These were used to make not only baskets, but mats, bags, beds, sandals or even reed rafts. It is said that basketry came first and influenced cloth weaving, pottery and even carpentry. Some say that basketry inspired pottery as early baskets were lined with clay for waterproofing and those that accidentally burned left behind thin-walled pottery. I love discovery out of what might at first glance look like a mistake. 

One of my favorite examples of a mistake is about Ivory soap. Ivory was originally just another bar soap, but the guy who ran the mixing machine accidentally left it on while he was out to lunch and it over whipped the batch of soap. P&G decided to sell it anyway, and once out on the market people were clamoring for the 'soap that floats' because at the time woman would have to dig around in the bottom of the washtub for the soap. I know, I know. I'm off track again. But sometimes I love the little side stories.

Basket Case

My mother loved baskets and often joked calling herself a Basket Case given her rather large collection

Antique Native American Indian Hupa Basket SimonCurtisAntiques £450.00	Antler Basket with Dried Philodendron - Item 670 by Susan Ashley TxWeaver $120.00	Vintage Woven Boho Basket / Boho Decor / Southwestern Decor / Mexican Tight Weave Basket With Lid HydeAndChic $18.00	Washoe Polychrome Degikup Native American Indian Tribe Paiute HUGE GIANT Coiled Native Globular Basket Giant Enormous Willow Rod Coil retrosideshow $10500.00
Large Red-Man Picnic Basket w/ Accessories 50's & 60's PurpleSquirrelsNest $65.00	Straw Flower Pine Needle Basket handmade HeartOfAlmanor $285.00	Tlingit Indian Style Spruce Root Rattletop Basket BasketsOldandNew $2000.00	Vintage Hupa Basket - Mint Condition - Rattle Snake Band Basket - Native American Basket - Indian Basket - Home Decor MojaveJimTradingPost $750.00
Vintage Round Coiled Basket with Lid, Finely Hand Woven seedwingwonder $60.00	Large Vintage Woven Basket or Purse - Black Straps, Handles MysticLily $17.50	Native American hand woven coil basket southwestern OnWinstonLane $43.00	Vintage Native American Round Lidded Trinket Basket with Knob GreySkyAntiques $48.50
PNW Native American Designs FullCircleArt $425.00	Papago Horsehair Mini Basket & Lid Genuine Tohono O'odham The Desert People OldWestGems $110.00	Native American Basket / Authenticated Indian Coil Basket With Lid / Rustic Southwestern Decor / Unique Storage / Antique Handmade Container ChapsAndRascal $56.00	Vintage Coil Basket Southwestern Design PastClassics $35.00

Powered By Toastie Studio - Etsy Tools