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Handwoven African Baskets

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Handwoven African Baskets

Calming Neutrals

Each basket is handmade and a unique work of art. Minor flaws may be present, which adds to the authenticity of the product.
No two pieces are the same and we cannot guarantee that patterns on baskets purchased will be the same as pictured.

Bulawayo Gourd

400AED - 1200AED

Ilala Trays

200AED - 400AED

Masvingo Sisal Baskets

80AED - 450AED

Binga/Tonga Baskets

40AED - 420AED

Makenge Baskets

240AED – 260AED

Imbenge Bowls

60AED – 300AED

River Reed Zulu Bowls

190AED – 350AED

Palm Mats

20AED – 40AED

Bright & Uplifting

Swazi Sisal Baskets

450AED

Telephone Wire Baskets

70AED - 300AED

Our intention is to empower these individuals, and their communities, by not only compensating them ethically, but also by showing them that the beauty of their work is adored all over the world.

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grassrootsafricaninteriors@gmail.com

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Born and bred Africans ourselves, we are inspired daily by the boundless talents of our artisans who spend hours crafting the authentically unique works that we source from all over Africa.

grassrootsafricaninteriors@gmail.com

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Chain print bermuda shorts 1 x $49.00
Waxed-effect pleated skirt 1 x $49.00
Waxed-effect pleated skirt 1 x $49.00
Waxed-effect pleated skirt 1 x $49.00

Subtotal $98.00

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Bulawayo Gourd

Zimbabwe

These decorative masterpieces, each unique, are handwoven by the Ndebele women of Zimbabwe, who are often the breadwinners of their extended families. They are made from Ilala Palm.

From 40cm to 85cm in diameter and approximately 55cm in height.

40cm: 400AED
50cm: 480AED
65cm: 750AED
85cm: 1200AED

Ilala Trays

Zimbabwe

Also handwoven with Ilala Palm leaves, they are perfectly and aesthetically simple and work well as a wall decoration or as a table tray, because they are fairly flat.

They come in 40cm, 60cm and 100cm in diameter.

40cm: 200AED
60cm: 300AED
100cm: 400AED

Masvingo Sisal Baskets

Zimbabwe

Called Zienzele baskets and made in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, these works of art are made from the fibre extracted from sisal plants. Being very porous, sisal absorbs colour beautifully which allows the fibre to take on intense colour. The fibre is boiled with flowers, leaves or bark from local plants to give the black, brown and yellow colours. Blue is derived from ink. Synthetic dies are also used. The fibre is twisted into string and then woven onto local grasses to form baskets. The process, from start to finish, can take in excess of 40hours to weave a basket.

Traditionally, giving a Zienzele basket has become a symbol of wishing a person a long and happy life, which makes it a perfect gift for any occasion!

15cm: 80AED
20cm: 120AED
25cm: 200AED
30cm: 250AED
35cm: 350AED
40cm: 450AED

Binga / Tonga Baskets

Zimbabwe / Zambia

Called Binga baksets in Zimbabwe and Tonga baskets in Zambia, the BaTonga of Northern Zimbabwe and Southern Zambia are famous for their basket weaving skills as well as their geometric designs. An Ilala palm is woven into a characteristic square to begin and then radiates outwards to create dramatic patterns, traditionally in the shape of a spider web or lightning. The Ilala palm fibres are dyed with tree bark and the baskets are finished with a distinctive herringbone pattern rim.

A basket of 30cm takes roughly two weeks to complete. These baskets are traditionally used to separate grain from the chaff, or other debris from the stored grain. In an area prone to drought and poverty, Tonga women are the entrepreneurs of their villages, bringing much needed additional income to their families.

These come in many sizes, from super tiny at 10cm in diameter to huge at 90cm in diameter.

11cm - 100cm: 40AED - 420AED

Makenge Baskets

Zambia

Hand woven from the roots of the Makenge bush, these baskets are traditionally handed down to new brides from their mothers or in-laws to be passed down in the future to the next generation. Each basket takes up to two weeks to create and carries the stories of its owners, as they are passed down from generation to generation. In a time-consuming process, the Makenge roots are extracted, peeled, boiled and dyed and dried before the weaving process is even started. The roots make the baskets quite robust.

These baskets are a remarkable testament to the skilful weaving of the Barotsi and Losi tribe women.

The baskets come in two sizes in diameter:

35cm – 40cm: 240AED
41cm - 45cm: 260AED

Imbenge Bowls

Zululand, South Africa

A saucer-shaped bowl traditionally woven with Ilala palm and grass fibres. The Imbenge is used as a platter for serving food, as well as used upside down to function as a lid to cover the beer pots. When not in use it is hung up on the wall of the hut as part of the décor. All colours are natural obtained from boiling roots, leaves, berries and bark of indigenous flora.

Range between 20cm – 58cm diameter and 4cm – 14cm in depth.

60AED – 300AED

River Reed Zulu Bowls

Zululand, South Africa

Range between 27cm – 35cm diameter and 8cm – 12cm in depth.

190AED – 350AED

Palm Mats

Zululand, South Africa

Making perfect wall decorations or table-top serving mats or coasters, we have a range of flat Zulu-made palm mats.

Range from 10cm - 30cm in diameter.

20AED – 40AED

Swazi Sisal Baskets

Swaziland

Swazi sisal baskets are collectors’ items, handwoven by highly skilled weavers. The most skilled are referred to as Master Weavers, who usually weave the larger baskets, which take considerably more time to create.

Baskets can take in excess of 40 hours to weave and are some of the most complex baskets to weave.

31cm – 450AED

Telephone Wire Baskets

Zululand, South Africa

The more modern version of the Ilala Palm Imbenge. Legend has it that weaving with telephone wire was started in the 1970’s by a night watchman in the urban areas or cities, who kept himself occupied at night by using recycled or disposed telephone wire to create a new style of Imbenge (which were traditionally weaved by the men). He soon realized that he was onto something really special, which has since become a tradition amongst the Zulu people. The handweaving is detailed and each turn of the metal is calculated according to a mathematical system that must be followed precisely.

If it’s colour that you are after then these are perfect for you! It is almost impossible to photograph every single basket because each one is unique so get in touch with us and we can send you pictures and details of baskets in your colours.

These come in 3 shapes. A round bowl shape, a conical bowl shape and a flat plate-like shape.

Round bowls:
13cm – 70AED
16m – 100AED
23cm – 150AED

Conical bowls:
31cm – 200AED
37cm – 270AED

Plates:
20cm – 100AED
25cm – 200AED
32cm – 250AED
36cm – 300AED