Gullah Sweet Grass Basket With Lid - Gorgeous

Description

Gullah Sweet Grass Basket With Lid - Gorgeous. Condition is "Used". Shipped with USPS Priority Mail
Basket lid is 4.5” across and 5” tall with lid and about 8” tall to the handle. The basket weave is repeated on the top lid and bottom of the basket. Beautiful workmanship. Basket is tight and in excellent shape. Please see pics and ask questions. I’ll do my best to answer them.
Rigorous craftsmanship and long hours of work are involved in making these baskets. Even for the most experienced basketmaker, a simple design can take as long as twelve hours. A larger more complex design can take as long as two to three months. Family members have always enjoyed close cooperation in marketing their work. It is quite common to find work belonging to several members of a family on the same basket stand. It is usually these stands that display a wide selection of baskets.
In continuous production since the 18th century, Lowcountry coil basketry is one of the oldest crafts of African origin in America. Today baskets are purchased by museums and art collectors throughout the world, such as the Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution.
Each basket reflects the artist's skill as both designer and technician A basket's value increases with age and with proper care will last indefinitely. Examples of Lowcountry coil basketry exist that are well over a century old. Because the grasses used in these baskets are from wetlands and marsh areas, water will not hurt them. With a soft brush or cloth, they can be carefully washed in soapy water and rinsed thoroughly in cold water. They should then be air dried. This is the only care they require.
(Text by Marguerite S. Middleton and Mary A. Jackson.
Adapted from a brochure funded by The Mount Pleasant Town Council and the S. C. Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Tourism).