Mid 20th Century East African Coiled Lidded Basket, Possibly Ethiopian

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Description

There are objects that earn their beauty over time, and this is one of them. A handwoven lidded basket of … Read more There are objects that earn their beauty over time, and this is one of them. A handwoven lidded basket of East African origin — possibly Ethiopian — the color alone tells the story: decades of natural oxidation have transformed the original plant fiber into a deep, warm cognac with rich amber and brown tonal variation that no new piece could replicate.

The form is quietly sculptural. A low, wide coiled body is crowned by a generously domed lid with a rounded knob finial — a silhouette that sits as comfortably on a coffee table or library shelf as it does in a serious collection of African ethnographic art. The coiling is fine and consistent, worked in a radiating pattern from a tight center point, the mark of a skilled hand working within a living craft tradition.

Dating to the mid-20th century, circa 1950s–1960s. Shows honest patina and wear consistent with decades of use. Structurally sound throughout.

Approximately 10.5" diameter x 7.5" tall including lid. Natural plant fiber, coiled construction. See less