Mid 20th Century Binga Basket

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Binga baskets, also commonly called Tonga baskets, are traditional grain winnowing baskets handmade by the Batonga people in the Binga … Read more Binga baskets, also commonly called Tonga baskets, are traditional grain winnowing baskets handmade by the Batonga people in the Binga district of Zimbabwe. They are relatively flat and great as wall decor.

These contemporary solid-edged baskets are the apex of the basket maker's art in Zimbabwe. The baskets start as a woven square and end up almost perfectly round. The pattern on the edging is referred to as “snake’s belly”, as the pattern resembles the scales of a serpent. The design is very functional, as the baskets are used to winnow grain even today. The baskets are sometimes called “grandmother baskets” because few younger women are making them. See less