Zulu Beer Basket on Stand South Africa Sidley Collection

The Zulu are the largest tribe in Southern Africa, renowned for their artistry and craftsmanship. Zulu basketmakers are widely considered among the best in the world. Dotted on the rolling hills of KwaZulu-Natal, there exists a beehive of industry, where numerous women work at the art of basketry. They have taken the traditional art form and turned it into a way to supplement their incomes and in many cases it is their only means of income. The women work in their homes, where they can assimilate basket-making into their normal routine - giving themselves time to raise their children, work in the fields, collect water, and do other daily chores. 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 color. Designs are taken from traditional Zulu beadwork. A true collector's item.

UKHAMBA

A rigid, bulb-shaped container, rendered watertight by the tightness of the coil/weave and the material used (Ilala palm). When liquids (generally home-brewed beer) are introduced into the ukhamba, the pores swell, while the outside sweats, thus keeping the liquid cool by means of evaporation. These baskets are usually very decorative and colorful, particularly those made for ceremonial use.

MATERIALS COMMONLY USED IN ZULU BASKET WEAVING

Ilala Palm - Most desirable. Grows along the Northeastern Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Once cut and dried, the leaf is then prepared for weaving into fine, often watertight baskets. Natural shade: Cream.

Ncebe - Bark of wild Banana. These baskets are not watertight; they're used for dry storage. Dyed Ilala is interwoven to impart color and design. Natural shade: light brown.

SOME COMMON COLORS USED IN ZULU BASKET WEAVING

All colors are natural (with the exception of black, which uses battery acid!), obtained from boiling roots, leaves, berries, and bark of indigenous flora. Many are seasonal. The dyestuffs are finely chopped, water is added, and the grasses to be dyed are boiled in this mixture.

Brown/Black (Isizimane) - Roots of a tree, crushed (boiled for many days).

Pink/Lilac (Mpheghumbetu) - Leaves of a small bush (boiled 12-18 hours).

Coral (Mgwenya) - Aloe Roots (boiled 4-6 hours).

Purple/Blue (Umdoni) - Skin of ripe Umdoni berries (boiled 4-5 hours).

Burgundy/Maroon (Isfizu) - Bark of Marula tree (boiled 1-2 hours).

Orange (Xomisane) - Roots of a small plant (boiled 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) - The green color is clearer in Spring. Fresh cow dung, soaked overnight in water, then boiled with palm leaves (4-5 hours)

Provenance: Niña Sidley Collection

After a long career in publishing, Niña Sidley returned to her first love: collecting the art, artifacts, and textiles of the world’s indigenous peoples. Part of her mission has been to educate others and to honor the extraordinary creativity, ingenuity, and heartfelt messages these handmade works send from their makers. Niña believes this deep respect for tradition and beauty inspires and ties all of us together as one world.

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