Origin of basket?

Discussion in 'Tribal Art' started by Messilane, Feb 26, 2015.

  1. Messilane

    Messilane Well-Known Member

    I have had it forever, but just rediscovered it in a box.
    It squashes flat, so it's stuffed with plastic bags to photograph.
    The top is not really scalloped - it's just misshapen.
    It is about 7" high, and about 8" across.
    I notice it also has at least one small hole in the close-up of the top. :(

    New? Old? African? North American?

    DSCN9241.JPG

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    DSCN9244 - Version 2.JPG

    DSCN9244.JPG
     
  2. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    Not NA.
    The fiber looks like Sisal ,
    maybe African ??
     
  3. Messilane

    Messilane Well-Known Member

    You're asking me?! heeheehee
    I have no idea whatsoever.

    All I can say is that it is fairly tightly woven.
     
    komokwa likes this.
  4. Messilane

    Messilane Well-Known Member

    Thought I would bump this in case.
     
  5. quirkygirl

    quirkygirl likes pretty old things

    Agreeing with komokwa on the sisal (like twine)
    Looks to me like crochet rather than "woven"
    I have no clue as to origin
    Does it look like it had handles?
     
  6. Messilane

    Messilane Well-Known Member

    It *may* have, but I don't think so.

    Does sisal come in such fine gauge? Because this is hardly any (if at all) thicker than old fashioned button thread.
     
  7. quirkygirl

    quirkygirl likes pretty old things

    That thin, huh? I've had sisal / agave washcloths that were pretty thin but not as thin as button thread.

    The close-up photo looks very similar to the sisal twine that I use to knit back scrubbing straps ... but my stuff is about 2mm thick.

    Maybe jute - like what is used in a burlap bag?
    Is it scratchy or soft?
     
  8. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    It can be very thin....but is still a coarse fiber.
    I'm sure that item is not soft to the touch.
     
  9. Messilane

    Messilane Well-Known Member

    Indeed it is not soft.
    One could exfoliate right down to the bone with it! :woot::D
     
  10. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    that's why it's used for shower mitts too !
     
  11. Messilane

    Messilane Well-Known Member

    I have had shower mitts (until I realized how gross that they get - and quickly too!), but they are thicker than this.
    This would make a good "hair shirt" for a monk.
     
  12. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    the fiber is widely used for even thicker applications like ropes.
     
  13. Messilane

    Messilane Well-Known Member

    Still need to know where it is from though. :(
     
  14. Taupou

    Taupou Well-Known Member

    It's a traditional shigra, or handbag, from Ecuador. They're made from cabuya, a type of agave. They have a lot of history and tradition behind them, since they date back to pre-Columbian times. Every woman in the Andes made, and used these. They were used for storage, as carrying bags, and even (according to some sources) as units of measure.

    The form was revived during the 1970's/1980's as a popular handicraft from the region.
     
  15. Messilane

    Messilane Well-Known Member

    Taupou, thank you! that was just what I needed to know.

    Do you think this one had handles at one time?
     
  16. Taupou

    Taupou Well-Known Member

    The ones I've seen usually had a thin cord, braided out of the same material, that was either stitched onto the bag on opposite sides, or else threaded through some wider stitches around the top, for a drawstring. New ones often have sewn-on leather handles.

    The third photo, where the stitches seem to be pulled a little, may have been where a handle was stitched on at one time.
     
  17. Messilane

    Messilane Well-Known Member

    Ok then.
    Thank you again for helping with it. :)
     
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