Baskets and baskets oh my

I'm helping my parents sort through their basement. They have dozens of baskets. At a guess many are from Africa. I can't even begin to guess which part of Africa many of these are from. I know some of their collection they got in remote villages and others are tourist items, but I don't have the knowledge to tell the difference.

 

@Taupou
@2manybooks

 

Sorry to be slow. It can be difficult to pinpoint the more modern, commercial styles of baskets.

I think the ones you have shown are probably from Kenya. Although not exactly the same, these are made with the same technique and material as the first of your (larger) photos -


https://www.facebook.com/basketske/photos/

This shutterstock image shows a basket with the spaced coil stitching, similar to the other baskets you have. It describes them as made by Maasai (Masai) women, also in Kenya.
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/handwoven-straw-african-baskets-made-by-193644206

The Maasai are not traditionally known for their basketry, and I imagine this is a craft that has been recently introduced as a source of income. This type would be quick to make, and require a minimum of materials.

 

That makes sense; my parents spent many years in Kenya, and many of the baskets they have are utilitarian in nature (to this day their dirty laundry is in a giant basket the size of a half barrel). They bought baskets for daily use for many other things. They do have some interesting ones in their collection and I will post those individually.

And I had no idea that the Maasai made baskets these days. I have a Maasai bead "watch" that they made to imitate westerners wearing watches.

 

There is the possibility that the shutterstock description was inaccurate, particularly since the openwork basket was off to the side in the photo. But I have not been able to find other examples of that type to confirm or refute the attribution.