Woven Legacies: Innovation & Tradition
Timed Online Auction, 2 - 24 February 2025
Vintage baskets from southern Africa: The collection of Dr Elizabeth Terry
About the SessionThis selection of vintage baskets comes from the collection of Dr.Elizabeth Terry, a social scientist with a special interest in craft development. It marks a historic moment, being the first time a collection of this kind has come to market. Originating from Southern and Central Africa, these baskets demonstrate how everyday objects—once used for practical purposes like storing food, sifting grain, and carrying goods—transform over time into cultural artifacts and works of art.
About this Item
Notes
Kebaletile Ntireleng was born in Kaxwantsha but later moved with her family to Manxotae. In 1991, at the time this basket was made, she was already over 60 years old. She would make open baskets (totwana) and manki-style baskets with lids. She liked to make really big open baskets, some even over 60 centimetres in diameter.
The coiling technique here uses close simple over-sewing with two rows stacked, using bundles of grass for the core. Typically, the ‘right’ side of the basket rather than the ‘wrong’ side faces the weaver. This means that the outside of a closed, lidded container would face the basketmaker, while the inside of an open bowl-shaped basket would face the weaver. In contrast, the San basketmakers, make open bowl-shaped baskets with the outside facing them. The natural palm colour becomes grey by soaking the leaves in rusty water (from tin cans or a chain) for a few days.
- Dr Elizabeth Terry
Provenance
Dr Elizabeth Terry Collection.
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