Notes

Combretum root baskets were mainly made in Zambia by the Lozi and in southern Angola by the Nyemba. With migration, these skills were brought down to northern Namibia and Botswana. Few weavers were making Combretum baskets in the 1980s and 90s in Botswana or Namibia.

To prepare the materials, a weaver will pull out a long Combretum root that runs superficially under the sandy soil. Sitting with her legs straight out in front of her, she will wrap the thicker end of the root around her big toe and pull the rest of the root towards her. Using a small sharp knife, she will scrape the root until the entire length is the same width. The root for wrapping the coil is processed in the same manner, but pared down until it is very thin. This material is then soaked in water until it becomes very pliable. The red-brown colour is obtained when the Combretum roots are boiled with the bark of the Berchemia discolor tree. The dark grey colour is created when the Combretum roots are boiled with the bark of Euclea divinorum tree roots, and then soaked in water with tin cans for several days. This basket has been created using a technique called simple over-sewing with two rows stacked.

- Dr Elizabeth Terry

Provenance

Dr Elizabeth Terry Collection.