Medium - 16-17”

The BaTonga of Zimbabwe and Southern Zambia are famous for their basket weaving skills as well as their geometric designs. The ilala palm is woven into a characteristic square to begin and then radiates outwards to create dramatic patterns that are classic yet modern. The palm fibres are dyed with tree bark, and the baskets are finished with a distinctive herringbone pattern rim.

A basket takes roughly two weeks to complete, and these winnowing baskets are used to separate grain from the chaff, or other debris from the stored grain. In an area prone to drought and poverty, Tonga women are the entrepreneurs of their villages, bringing much-needed additional income to their families.

Please note that many of our handmade items are one of a kind, perfectly imperfect, vintage and have indigenous repair work which we believe adds to the intrinsic value and beauty of the items. No two items are exactly the same. As a result, our website photos are a close representation of the items available, but may not be identical to the ones you receive. If you prefer to select an exact item, please notify us at info@thewanderlane.com and we will send photos of what we have in stock.