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History of basket Making |
Basketry is the craft or process of making baskets or objects woven like
baskets from plants and synthetic materials. Learn about the extensive cultural
history of basketry and how to make your own baskets.
Basket making survives in many parts of the world today in forms, techniques,
and materials similar to those used in past ages. While continuing as a living
tradition, it has undergone a revival of interest among craftspeople, leading to
new forms of expression. Just as weavers make pictures with tapestry, basket
makers now use basketry techniques to create sculpture.
Traditionally, basket makers gather and prepare their own materials.
Until you have grasped the medium, you may prefer to purchase your materials.
Rattan core, know to most of us as reed, has been used in this country to some
extent for many years. However, the increasing number of new basket makers,
coupled with the scarcity of native woods, has meant that larger quantities of
supplies must be imported to replace many of the natural materials that were
once used. Flat reed has replaced oak, ash and hickory splits. Round reed has
replaced oak, willow and other vine-like materials that were used for ribbed or
twined baskets; it has even replaced natural materials that once served as the
"core" of coiled baskets. So, the kind or size of reed chosen today depends on
the type of basket to be made.
An interesting fact about the age-old craft of basket making is that, while many
other crafts have become mechanized, no one has ever invented a machine that can
make baskets. They are still handmade, even in Taiwan. It's not even an easy
task to mass-produce baskets with the aid of molds, electric saws and sanders,
and a multitude of "assembly line" processes. In fact, no one has ever improved
upon the earliest and most basic techniques of basket making.
Basket weaving offers a way to connect with nature in an intensely
personal and creative way. This relationship begins with the gathering of
materials and grows as the basket emerges in the weaver's hands.
In the hands of Hopi women, natural fibers from plants that grow on and around
the Hopi Mesas are transformed into items to meet daily needs and to serve as
personal gifts. Plaques have great value attached to them when they serve as
gifts given by Katsinam to children and adults. Plaques also serve in the rites
of Hopi religious events, when they hold prayer feathers (pahos), prayer sticks,
and sacred cornmeal. In the literature of the late nineteenth century, plaques
were usually referred to as sacred baskets or sacred trays.
Hopi basketry is closely linked to the social interactions of Hopi families and
clans. One could say that the natural fibers of which basketry items are made
are symbols of the fibers that bind Hopi society and culture together. Basketry
provides the wares for Hopi generosity, for giving thanks and appreciation, and
for carrying and presenting food and good intentions to interrelated families
and clans.
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