Hands Craft Fair Trade African Binga or Tonga Zimbabwe Basket 18"-19" Across # 32

Description

African Basket - Tonga - Zimbabwe Binga Basket Traditionally, the baskets were (and still are) used for carrying maize or sorghum from the fields and then winnowing the grain. Traditional designs includes stripes, a spider web type pattern, and a lightning pattern with a distinctive square bottom design to form the foundation of the basket. Binga baskets are light, and popular to hang as a wall decor. The colors are neutral with a beautiful geometric designs. They are created from naturally dyed palm leaves. The baskets have a distinctive design with a square bottom forming the foundation of the basket. Because of the large volumes of the Ilala palm being harvested to make these baskets the Tonga people are having to replant the palm leaf as it is their means of making a living as they are in a region that is prone to drought and poverty so basket making helps these women feed their families. Tonga baskets are woven on radials of 'creepers' (vines), and palm leaves are sometimes dyed with bark and roots to make up the designs. Hang this functional art on a wall in singles or multiples for a pop of textural pattern.