Handmade baskets and their beginning
The baskets add a bit of history and decoration to our homes that go back to the past, when objects were made by hand out of necessity and not out of a hobby. They were used in the home to store things like potatoes, onions, flowers, and to carry eggs. Again we are discovering that the baskets are practical, save space for storage and are attractive. They can add an extra pop of color to any room.
No one is really sure who made the first baskets or when they were made, but the Egyptians, Romans, and British were all very talented in the art of basket making. However, many believe that the Native American Indians of the Southwest may have been weaving and wearing a type of rolled basketry as early as 7000 BC. C.
The baskets were first made from whatever material was practical and native to the weaver culture. If in fact Native Americans were the first people to weave baskets, they could have used twigs, pine needles, reeds, roots, rye straw, rattan, yucca plant, young willow wood, walnut, black ash, white ash, White. oak and rattan.
The earliest types of baskets were made using rolled-weave, basket-weaving, and braiding methods. With each method, they could create different patterns and styles of weaving to suit the purpose of the basket. They were used for storage, water transport, meal preparation, baby carriers, cribs, winnowing grain, screens, dumps, helmets, canoes, shields, and for ceremonial purposes.
The warp part of the basket or bottom is the base on which the weft or sides are woven. The weaving of rolled baskets is done by winding the base material (wrap) into a spiral. The coil is wrapped with the weaver (weft) that also connects each successive row with the previous row. Basket weaving is made by weaving above and below the ribs (warp that usually goes up and down) with the weaver (weft) that goes around. When braiding, the warp and weft materials are usually made from the same materials and the warp and weft are used equally to go over and under to make the different patterns. This type of basket is more flexible than a rolled or wicker basket because it is not tightly woven, often due to the type of material used. The flexibility of the basket does not make it less valuable or usable than the other materials and weaving methods.
One of the first named baskets to become famous in the mid to late 1800s was the Nantucket basket. It was made by sailors manning the lighthouse station outside of Nantucket Harbor. Having nothing to do but keep the lights on, they spent their time weaving what is known as a Nantucket Lightship basket. They were usually made in sets of graduated sizes and fitted one inside the other.
Another well-known basket design is the breech basket, which is known by three names. An egg basket, gizzard basket or breech basket due to the characteristic double bowl shapes on either side of a central ring. This basket was used by early farmers to collect eggs due to its uniquely shaped bottom; did not allow the eggs to roll. The Old Order Amish community still uses this basket today. Due to its unique shape, there are only a few basket weavers skilled enough to create it.
Today, many of the Old Order Amish basket weavers use a solid wood bottom and, by joining ribs, they weave a type of wicker wicker pattern by alternating rows starting at the bottom, working towards the top. Amish weavers dye their wicker with permanent dye so that they can create baskets to match any colored décor inside or outside the home. In addition, they have found that by attaching solid wood covers they can ride their buggies without worrying about something flying off or getting dusty.
Many of the small Amish communities that are not located near a large tourist area have found that basket weaving is a great way to help with family income. They put up a sign near the street or in warmer weather they have a small market stall near the road. They offer their baskets, baked goods, vegetables, hand-woven rugs and other handmade items for sale.
Even though the Old Order Amish only use primitive tools, they are very creative and talented and I am sure they will continue to create and design many more unique country baskets in the future. I know I will be one of the first in line to buy them.