Discover Wicker Baskets

Today, wicker baskets hold our choice of flowers and fruit at the farmer's market...

Today, wicker baskets hold our choice of flowers and fruit at the farmer’s market, and fashion magazines at home but for our ancestors they played the important role of carrying the goods that were to be traded. Baskets and basket weaving have been traced back to Egypt, at least 4,000 years ago. For a substance that is not as indestructible as stone or clay, the influence and appearance of wicker baskets in society has been long-lasting.

Origins

As the materials used to make the baskets do not withstand weathering, it is hard to trace the origins of this product. Nonetheless, the dry air of the Egyptian pyramids has preserved some, and has afforded modern Archeologists the opportunity to discover them. Over time, as baskets were traded between tribes, the weaving methods were exchanged and different cultures adopted new techniques. This is why you can see Asian weaving methods in very old European baskets.

Beautiful and Useful

Today, wicker baskets are mainly used for decorative purposes, as they are a beautiful way to keep office supplies, magazines, cosmetics, or other daily necessities neatly organized and more enjoyable to have around. While some people opt to weave their own baskets as a hobby, others choose to employ the skills of an artisan. The baskets made by these artists are unique, thoughtfully designed and quite luxurious to have around the home.

The Evolution of the Wicker Basket

While wicker baskets began as a means to an end for many nomadic peoples, they have evolved into a beautiful item in the home that can be used for storing one’s favorite jewelry, the most precious fashion magazines, or toting a new bouquet of peonies on the way home from the market. An item as everlasting as this must be recognized for its staying power and its ability to become such a lovely staple in the day-to-day, uplifting even the most simple moments to times of enjoyment and luxury.