In rural Zambia near Victoria Falls, new brides are given these rare hand woven baskets handmade from the roots of the Makenge bush which is truly an art form of its own. The roots are boiled until they are soft and are colored with natural plant dyes.
A vintage wedding basket is a woman’s most useful and valuable possession. This is an old tradition carried on from centuries. In most instances, the baskets are handed down to the bride by her mother or in laws. In the future, the same basket will be passed on to her newly married daughter.
The baskets are weaved by the most skilled Mbunda craftswomen of the remote western province of Zambia. The baskets are considered to be a collector’s items. The baskets are so durable due to the fact that the same basket can be used in a single family for over a century. The baskets age increases their value.
Each basket features a unique one of a kind pattern including raised grass designs and is re-decorated over time to convey messages of beauty, marriage and family. The married women use the baskets for winnowing grain, collect and store harvested roots and rice, decorate their homes by hanging the basket on the wall.
Because this is a handmade item, each will vary slightly and show signs of wear. No two are the same. If you wish to order online, please request a photo to be emailed to you.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Measurments: 17" - 18"
Made in Zambia