I had a wicker shopping basket in my youth, which got lost in one of our home moves. Recently, I had felt the need to find a replacement and found exactly the shape and size I wanted in a bric-a-brac store in the North Lanes, Brighton, which was very useful that day, for carrying some other items around.
Getting her home (she quickly let me know her energy signature), I cleansed her gently with a damp cloth, and my breath while we became acquainted, and I gave her my intention of what we would be getting up to together. Whilst doing this, I got the idea to look at the history and symbolism surrounding woven baskets. It has been an interesting topic for me to research, I hope some of you will also enjoy this.
The exact origin of the basket is unknown, there is evidence that suggests it likely originated over 10,000 years ago, making basket weaving, also known as basketry or wickerwork, one of the oldest crafts. Basketmaking has been called the mother of pottery, as a potter used a basket mould long before the invention of the pottery wheel. Pieces of Neolithic pottery show that the clay had been moulded around a basket structure, pots that have been found show ornamentation with basketwork patterns.
It is generally believed that the first baskets were created in ancient Egypt. They have been found in the pyramids, buried with ancient Egyptian pharaohs, perhaps indicting that wicker was considered a luxurious, expensive item and only owned by the wealthy. These baskets were used for carrying food, transport and mummification. Egyptian basket weavers used natural materials like reeds and swamp grasses to create intricate and useful designs. Due to the trade routes basketry would have spread to other cultures, as goods were probably transported in woven baskets and coracles (small boats), inspiring other cultures to develop the art of basket weaving.
By 300BCE basket weaving had been refined by the Greeks and Romans. Weavers in Greece created intricate wickerwork, producing woven goods such as cradles and chariots. In Rome, the wealthy had woven furniture in their villas and gardens, with wicker acting as a status symbol. Skilled wickerwork from this era, which combined form and function, has influenced the use of woven items across Europe.
In Japan, bamboo baskets became part of the beautiful, simple tea ceremony. Whilst in India, wicker baskets were used for storage, especially in areas where the humidity resistance of natural fibres was required.
Africa’s cultural diversity can be easily be seen within its wicker weaving traditions. There is the tightly woven Zulu baskets in the south, whereas in West Africa the baskets are more open and decorative, each region had its own method of basket making. African communities use wicker baskets for storing food and grains, as well as using the pattern of the baskets for art and symbolism.
Throughout history, wicker baskets have been a symbol of communal life, of sharing and caring. Across the world, they are used in rituals, rites of passage, ceremonies, and community gatherings, symbolizing abundance, generosity, and shared prosperity. They are used for shopping, foraging, gardening, gathering harvests, offerings, parties, picnics, ceremonies and celebrations, wicker baskets are woven with tradition and shared experience into the lives of so many people.
Magical properties –
Abundance, healing, happiness, harvest, hope, love, friendship, growth, prosperity, gratitude, memory, ancestors, beauty, resilience, unity, strength, inspiration, creativity.
You can see a chat about this here
The willow farm in Somerset I mention in the chat was founded in 1819 not 1902 as I say in the chat, here is their website - https://www.coatesenglishwillow.co.uk/
Sources –
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