Zulu Wire Basket, South Africa - Medium

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Description of Significance:

Recycled telephone wire baskets offer a contemporary take on the centuries-old basket weaving traditions of South Africa's Zulu people. Historically, Zulu artisans have been renowned for their tightly woven ukhamba baskets made from grasses and palm leaves, so skillfully crafted that they were used to store liquids.

While traditional weaving continues in rural areas, Zulu artists in urban settings have reimagined the craft, creating imbenge baskets made entirely from recycled telephone wire. These baskets are vibrant, colorful, and incredibly durable, reflecting the hues of the wire itself. Crafted in small groups, this art form not only preserves tradition but also fosters community and supports artisans.

Country of Origin:

• Hand woven in South Africa

Dimensions (inches):

• Depth: 3"
• Diameter: 12"
  

Sustainable Materials: 

• Recycled Telephone Wire (metal wire and colored plastic)

Display:

• These baskets can be displayed on a table or easily hung on the wall with a small finishing nail or thumbtack. 

About Decorative African Art:

At Hemingway Gallery, we carefully select pieces from artists and owners who meet our standards of historical and aesthetic quality. This includes newly created artworks that are actively used in ceremonies. While these pieces may lack age or antiquity, we deeply value them as authentic expressions of artistic tradition.

Our collection highlights the work of talented artisans producing fine art that draws inspiration from historic styles. We also embrace contemporary African aesthetics that may not fit traditional notions of “African” design. Our mission is to showcase the evolving creativity of Africa’s artists, moving beyond the concept of “tribal” to reflect the diversity and innovation of the continent’s artistic landscape.

Our Pricing:

Our pricing correlates directly to the asking prices of artists, artisans and art dealers in the various African countries we collect from and the costs of importing their artwork to the U.S. We need to change the idea that artists should be paid pennies for their fine art just because it comes from Africa. Paying a fair price to our artists is our number one priority and our pricing reflects that.

Shipping:

• Free domestic shipping on all baskets!
• We ship around the world! Our website is still new and is not yet processing automatic international shipping rates. Please contact us directly for custom shipping quotes outside the mainland USA (including Hawaii and Alaska).

Further Information:

Please email us at info@hemingwayafricangallery.com or call 212-838-3650 with the SKU # for further information on this piece.