RELATED SEARCHES
Sponsored Basketry Results:
Basketry: Mexican Folk Art, Indigenous People, Baskets, Fibers And Designs
By:
Published: November 30, 2007
One of the oldest forms of Mexican folk art is basketry. Indigenous people created these baskets because these items were important parts of their day to day activities. Basketry is common in early Mexican history, and despite being under the influence of numerous European conquerors, basketry survived, and indigenous people still exhibit great skill and mastery when it comes to the art of basketry.
Mexican baskets come in many shapes and designs and the materials used in basketry to create these works of art are varied. These hand-woven products may be made from ditch reed, wicker, palm, rush, sugar cane, rod, or straw. Indigenous people in the remote areas of Mexico still practice basketry. Style and technique have been handed down from one generation to another, and the preservation of these ideas contribute to the still flowering local art of basketry in Mexico.
There are many steps involved in making Mexican baskets and these procedures require quite a lot of patience and practice. A female member of this indigenous people can create as many as 20 medium-sized baskets in a single day. Before one can achieve such a feat, one must first select a particular material before starting. Right fibers factor in the strength and durability of the basket, so one must first be knowledgeable about the many kinds of available fibers for basketry.
The chosen material must be soaked first and there's an option for coloring the fibers first before beginning basketry. Natural dyes are the preferred choices of those skilled in this Mexican folk art, but present-day artisans have discovered alternative artificial coloring. The soaking process will make it easier for a weaver to mold the fibers onto the base of the basket. Once these fibers have been colored and dried, the basket-weaving process can begin. First, a base or form is made, and this is normally composed of four 1-inch wide rinds of sugar cane, which is the most common type of fiber used. Particular measurements for height and width are also selected by a basketry expert. The rinds are then cut into thinner strips, and these are woven into the structure of the basket. For baskets with handles, the fibers must be woven from one side of the base to the other. After the construction of structure, the basket's border is graded. When this has been evened out, a braid ring is placed as a crest.
For several days, the basket is left under the sun to dry. Once the basket is completely dry, one may choose to varnish or paint it to add intricate designs. What's great about traditional Mexican baskets is the variety of designs that they come in. Because these skilled artisans have many years of experience in basketry, they can create these baskets in different shapes and sizes. These works of art are both beautiful and useful creations, and there's no doubt that the Mexican folk art of basketry will still be passed on from this generation to the next.
Sources:
"Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology." Tesoros Escondidos. 27 Nov. 2007. http://hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu/exhibitions/mexic o2/bgg.html.
"Mexican Weaving Baskets, the Art ." Mexico, People and Crafts. 27 Nov. 2007. http://www.mexicopeopleandcrafts.com/webpages/maga zine/featuring/baskets.htm.
Mexican baskets come in many shapes and designs and the materials used in basketry to create these works of art are varied. These hand-woven products may be made from ditch reed, wicker, palm, rush, sugar cane, rod, or straw. Indigenous people in the remote areas of Mexico still practice basketry. Style and technique have been handed down from one generation to another, and the preservation of these ideas contribute to the still flowering local art of basketry in Mexico.
There are many steps involved in making Mexican baskets and these procedures require quite a lot of patience and practice. A female member of this indigenous people can create as many as 20 medium-sized baskets in a single day. Before one can achieve such a feat, one must first select a particular material before starting. Right fibers factor in the strength and durability of the basket, so one must first be knowledgeable about the many kinds of available fibers for basketry.
The chosen material must be soaked first and there's an option for coloring the fibers first before beginning basketry. Natural dyes are the preferred choices of those skilled in this Mexican folk art, but present-day artisans have discovered alternative artificial coloring. The soaking process will make it easier for a weaver to mold the fibers onto the base of the basket. Once these fibers have been colored and dried, the basket-weaving process can begin. First, a base or form is made, and this is normally composed of four 1-inch wide rinds of sugar cane, which is the most common type of fiber used. Particular measurements for height and width are also selected by a basketry expert. The rinds are then cut into thinner strips, and these are woven into the structure of the basket. For baskets with handles, the fibers must be woven from one side of the base to the other. After the construction of structure, the basket's border is graded. When this has been evened out, a braid ring is placed as a crest.
For several days, the basket is left under the sun to dry. Once the basket is completely dry, one may choose to varnish or paint it to add intricate designs. What's great about traditional Mexican baskets is the variety of designs that they come in. Because these skilled artisans have many years of experience in basketry, they can create these baskets in different shapes and sizes. These works of art are both beautiful and useful creations, and there's no doubt that the Mexican folk art of basketry will still be passed on from this generation to the next.
Sources:
"Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology." Tesoros Escondidos. 27 Nov. 2007. http://hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu/exhibitions/mexic o2/bgg.html.
"Mexican Weaving Baskets, the Art ." Mexico, People and Crafts. 27 Nov. 2007. http://www.mexicopeopleandcrafts.com/webpages/maga zine/featuring/baskets.htm.
Featured Basketry Products:
