Basketry

Basketry is the art of weaving together naturally occurring materials into a bowl or similar style vessel. There are several different types of basketry, including coiled, plaiting, and twining; and each have there own unique characteristics. It is a skill that is rooted in early human civilization and is still practiced by artists and craftsman all over the world.

The earliest examples of basketry can be dated to well over 10,000 years ago; far outdating the earliest known examples of pottery. However, it is hard to establish exactly how old the practice is because baskets are always made from natural materials that eventually decay and disappear. There are some that speculate that basket making has existed as long as humans themselves.

Traditional basketry is almost always done with natural fibers. Rattan, which is a reed, is a particularly common basket making material, as it is easy to find and is quite sturdy. As a general rule, baskets have always been made from materials that are easily found near the location of the basket weaver.