Early 20th Century Basket Container with Lid Ethiopia MATTER COLLECTION

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This Ethiopian basket container with lid is a finely handwoven example of traditional functional craft, created using natural plant fibers … Read more This Ethiopian basket container with lid is a finely handwoven example of traditional functional craft, created using natural plant fibers and shaped into a rounded, utilitarian form. The surface is tightly woven, demonstrating skilled construction and a consistent rhythmic pattern throughout the body.
The lid is the most decorative element, adorned with cowrie shells arranged in a traditional pattern that would have symbolized value, protection, or status. Some of the shells are now missing, adding to the object’s aged character and reflecting its long history of use.
The basket also shows clear evidence of indigenous repair, with areas reinforced using locally available materials and techniques that blend seamlessly into the original weave. These repairs speak to the object’s continued importance within daily or ceremonial life, where preservation and reuse were valued over replacement.
Overall, this piece carries a strong sense of authenticity and lived history, combining practical function with subtle decorative detail and traditional repair methods that highlight the ingenuity of Ethiopian basketry traditions.
Provenance: Matter Collection
From the collection of Margie and Phil Matter. Margie lived in South Africa, and later she and her husband Phil opened a gallery in Tucson. Everything in this collection was in their home for more than thirty years. Africa Direct recently bought the collection; at 95, Margie wants to share the things she has loved so much.Height (In) 13.0Width (In) 8.5Depth (In) 8.5
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