This basket was made in Botswana. I spotted it hanging on a wall among much brighter-colored baskets. I asked to see it, and was told that the colors are from traditional materials. The main material used to make Botswana baskets is raw fibres of the Mokola or ‘vegetable ivory’ palm tree. Brown dye tones are won from the bark and roots of Motlhakola and Motsentisila trees.
After I bought this basket I looked up the pattern, suspecting that it had to have an interesting name. This pattern is called the Knees of the Tortoise.
Oh my God. Knees of the Tortoise. I was hooked.
More to follow!
NOTES: indigoarts.com//baskets-botswana ©2024 Jadi Campbell. Uwe’s photos of our trips and his photography may be viewed at viewpics.de.
My books are Broken In: A Novel in Stories, Tsunami Cowboys, Grounded and The Trail Back Out.
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Beautiful basket, and I love the name!
The only one I didn’t love was “Urine Trail of the Bull”
beautiful work
I agree! And the name of the pattern just cliches that!
My son and DIL, who lived in Botswana for 2 years, have several Batswana baskets, including this one.
How lucky for your son and his wife that they lived there! Botswana is so beautiful.
You’re gathering a great collection of baskets.
Thanks Peggy! I don’t know if we’ll ever return to that part of the world and I’m glad I looked for them while I had the chance.