The Baskets
Feel the mystery and essence of Africa with these superb Zulu baskets, each one unique and lovingly hand-stitched.
In this age of modern technology and mass production, it is a joy to see and feel the dignified elegance and beauty of a rich Zulu heritage that has become a collectable art-form, preserving an age-old tradition proudly safeguarded and handed down through the generations.
Every basket is made by hand, using indigenous raw materials, and the type of basket varies from area to area, depending on the availability of raw materials, and the use to which the basket is to be put. It can take up to one month to produce a medium-sized basket that will be unique in size, shape, pattern, weave and colour. A true collector’s item.
MATERIALS COMMONLY USED IN ZULU BASKET-WEAVING
ILALA PALM – Mostly desirable. Grows along the North-Eastern Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Once cut and dried, the leaf is then prepared for weaving into fine, often water-tight baskets – Natural shade: Cream
NCEBE – Bark of wild Banana, natural shade: light brown. These baskets are not watertight – used for dry-storage. Dyed Ilala interwoven to impart colour and design.
In this age of modern technology and mass production, it is a joy to see and feel the dignified elegance and beauty of a rich Zulu heritage that has become a collectable art-form, preserving an age-old tradition proudly safeguarded and handed down through the generations.
Every basket is made by hand, using indigenous raw materials, and the type of basket varies from area to area, depending on the availability of raw materials, and the use to which the basket is to be put. It can take up to one month to produce a medium-sized basket that will be unique in size, shape, pattern, weave and colour. A true collector’s item.
SOME COMMON COLOURS USED IN ZULU BASKET-WEAVING
All colours are natural, obtained from boiling roots, leaves, berries and bark of indigenous flora. Many are seasonal.
- BROWN/BLACK (isizimane) – Roots of tree, crushed and boiled for many days.
- PINK/LILAC (Mpheghumbetu) – Leaves of small bush (12 – 18 hours)
- CORAL (Mgwenya) – Aloe Roots (4 – 6 hours)
- PURPLE/BLUE (Umdoni) – Skin of ripe umdoni berries (4-5 hours)
- BURGUNDY/MAROON (Isfixu) – Bark of Maula Tree (1-2 hours)
- ORANGE (Xomisane) – Roots of small plant (2-4 hours)
- MUSTARD/YELLOW (Icena) –Paste of wood-ash and water. Soaked overnight, boiled 5-7 hours.
- GREY (Ijuba) – Soaked in black mud for up to 1 week.
- KHAKI GREEN (Mxuba) – Fresh Cow dung, soaked overnight in water, thereafter boiled with palm leaves 4-5 hours. The green colour is clearer in spring.
BASIC DESIGNS
Zig-zag pattern (Masculine) - “The Assegais of Shaka”
Triangle - Masculine
Double Triangle forming hourglass shape - Married man
Diamond - Feminine
Double Diamond - Married woman
Small squares or dots – a celebration of fruitfulness - (i.e. good rains, good crops, many cattle, a new child.)
THE “MARRIAGE” DESIGN
A special basket is woven by the Bride, or a member of her family, as a gift from her to the Groom, which he will use at the Wedding as a beer-drinking vessel. The story of the marriage is woven for prosperity, and for all to see – the more affluent the family, the more detailed the design woven into the basket.
