The oldest of the Utilitarian Arts

Baskets

▪ Baskets date back almost as long as mankind has been around we have needed containers to carry everything from food to water.

BasketsThe History

▪ There are many different techniques for basket making each were developed for different specific materials.

BasketsThe History

▪ Technique using flat materials.

▪ Most common are Reed or Cane that has been split.

▪ Early Europeans and Americans would use Hickory, Oak, or Ash trees that would be cut down and then soaked and split. The flat stringy would be pealed from the inside.

Splint Weaving

Flat Reed Baskets using the Plaiting

Technique

▪ Technique of winding up an inner core like a snake while stitching it every ¼ inch.

▪ Traditional materials are strong grasses or soft strong tree fibers.

▪ This technique was used a lot by the Plains Indians.

Coiling

Coiling MethodUsing Thin Cloth

and Rope

▪ Traditional also done with reed or cane.

▪ As well as grapevines, honeysuckle, and Willow branches.

▪ The deciding factor is will the material be flexible and strong enough to handle the abuses of a basket.

Round Fiber Weaving

Reed BasketBy Kari Lonning

▪ Nearly anything can be used to make baskets.

▪ Some popular materials are wire, aluminum, acrylic and wool yarns,

▪ Ropes, Newspaper, and Cardboard boxes.

Materials being used today

Steel Wire Basket

Baskets can be made of nearly

any bendable materialThough all Traditional Baskets are

still handmade.

Reed Double Weave Basket w/

BeadsBy Debra Hammond

Apache Indian Baskets

Gourd & Pine Needle Basket By:

Phylis Sickles

“Bare Branches Blue Black Sky”By:

Joe Hogan

South AfricanWire Baskets using the Coiling

Abstract Expressionism

Jackson Pollock

Matikima

Max Coomer