Botswana Basket 9inch MATTER COLLECTION

This basket from Botswana is very similar to those from the Zulu of South Africa. As for the Zulu, the tradition of making baskets is known in Botswana for a very long time and is still alive today and even more diversified in terms of style, size, and decoration. The creativity of people from Botswana has reached its apex with these timeless baskets today overlooked as pieces worth collecting. Making baskets is an activity exclusively reserved for women, particularly the women from Bayei and Hambukushu ethnic groups. This stunning basket are made from palm tree fibers. This palm tree, called Mokola is found along the Okavango area. The technique and process of fabrication are very complex. It can take up to a month to produce a medium-sized basket. Every basket is made by hand, using indigenous raw materials mainly fibers from the Mokola palm. Reeds or straws are used to ensure the strength of the basket. Then, the basket would hold its shape and it would be hard to be compressed.

Provenance: Matter Collection

From the collection of Margie and Phil Matter. Margie lived in South Africa, and later she and her husband Phil opened a gallery in Tucson. Everything in this collection was in their home for more than thirty years. Africa Direct recently bought the collection; at 95, Margie wants to share the things she has loved so much.

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