- You will receive the exact basket pictured above.
- Taking a strikingly artistic shape, these pots make for lovely accent pieces on tables or shelves.
- These baskets are made from coils of native grasses wrapped in sisal fibers. Sisal, a species of agave endemic to Rwanda and closely related to yucca, is prepared by pressing its long, sword-shaped leaves between a metal can and a piece of wood to remove the pulp and extract up to 1000 fibers. These fine fibers are then spun into long threads and dyed in modern colors.
- Coil weaving, the technique used to create these baskets, is very difficult, requiring years of practice to master. Each revolution out from the center of the basket requires more material, such that adding an inch in diameter at the edge of a basket can take as long or longer than the first several inches at the base of the basket.
- Rural weavers in Rwanda of all tribes, including the once-warring Hutu and Tutsi peoples, work side by side to produce these uniquely woven baskets.
- Dimensions are approximate, but we do strive to get the measurements accurate within 1/2 inch. Please review the size of this item carefully using a ruler or tape measure before your purchase. See our Shopping FAQs for more information.
Weaving Baskets in Rwanda
In Rwanda, “the land of a thousand hills”, weavers from many tribes, including the recently warring Hutus and Tutsis, create sisal bowl baskets as symbols of peace, reconciliation, self- reliance and hope.
