Name: Ukhamba Canister
SKU: 100049
Availability: InStock

Ukhamba Canister

This is an unusual wide-mouthed, straight-sided coil weave African basket that works great for storing things in your home or office.

Material: Grass, Palm

Approximately 7.25 Inches Wide x 10.75 Inches Tall

$100.00

In stock

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You will receive the exact basket pictured above, woven by Thembi Mchunu.
This is an unusual wide-mouthed, straight sided shape that works great for storing things in your home or office. These canisters also look wonderful in a collection of other shapes of Ukhambas.
As part of Zulu wedding traditions, the bride’s family gifts large ukhambas 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.