Lidded basket created from coiled and woven grasses. Made by Beauty Ngxongo, one of southern Africa's preeminent contemporary weavers who has blurred the line between utilitarian craft and fine art. The basket tapers at the summit and the base, and is rounded at the sides, with a woven graphic motif resembling zebras covering the surface. The colors are obtained from natural sources - black fibers are produced by boiling the ilala palms with the indigo plant, while reddened sorghum leaves produce fibers with a reddish brown color. Nxgongo's work is represented in all the major South African museums, including the Iziko South African National Gallery in Cape Town.

Traditionally, Zulu baskets were made for the storage of food and beer. The shape and relative large size of this basket indicates it was probably based on isichumo (pl. izichumo), which were used as beer containers.

13" diameter.

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