Weaving beautiful patterned baskets from grass and palm leaf is a traditional craft of the Zulu peoples in South Africa. Woven baskets of these materials are still made in rural areas but in the cities and towns a new material is also used – recycled telephone wires. These make strong, brightly coloured, unique and washable containers. The colourful wires allow the makers to be creative and ingenious with the patterns that they introduce into the weave.

This particular basket has a complex spiral pattern that shows on both sides of the basket.  It is predominantly brown in colour with the pattern worked in white, pink, red and green. It is of a traditional shape called an imbenge.  It has a variety of uses – as a container, turned upside down to make a lid or hung on the wall when not in use.

You can see other examples of imbenge if you visit www.indigoarts.com