Name: Ukhamba
SKU: 64803
Availability: OutOfStock

Artist: Mbali Sibiya

You will receive the exact basket pictured above, woven by Mbali Sibiya.
This huge basket got dented during it’s trip from the weaver’s home in the mountains of Zululand, South Africa to the United States. None of the Ilala palm wrap or grass coils are damaged, and the dent is not easy to see. Because of this imperfection, we have greatly reduced the price on this Ukhamba.
It takes over a year to create a Ukhamba this large.
As part of Zulu wedding traditions, the bride’s family gifts large Ukhambas such as this one to the groom’s family in exchange for a gift of cattle. The patterns on the side of a basket indicate how many cattle the bride’s family expects.
These baskets are all-natural; dyes are made from materials as diverse as flower petals and mud. Some colors are very rare due to the scarcity of certain minerals. Other colors are only available seasonally, when specific flowers bloom.
Collecting these baskets in Zululand, South Africa is challenging, requiring the traversal of hundreds of miles of dirt roads between remote villages, collecting baskets hut to hut from dozens of individual weavers.
The quality of weaving and size of basket combine to determine prices on these stunning creations.
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.

Ukhamba

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