BASKETS
WOVEN BASKETS

The baskets are woven from sisal, a weed in Swaziland, using a fine coiling technique. All steps of production are carried out by hand, including cleaning, dyeing and spinning the sisal. A time-consuming art, a 17cm diameter basket takes 30 hours to weave. The more experience a woman has, the more refined her baskets.

Each basket is graded according to its technical and artistic qualities: size of shape, coil, and size of hand spun cotton, start, finish, and pattern – symmetry, colour combination and effort. The grades range from Trainee, Market, Craft and Gallery. A handful of women, the Master Weavers produce Collector's grade technically perfect baskets in stunning and intricate designs. There are about 20 Master Weavers out of 300 basket weavers in Tintsaba's Development Project.

Market Grade

Craft Grade

Gallery Grade

Environmental

Standard Bank Gallery 2007 of Masterweavers