Wicker basket

This is a detail of the base of a wicker basket. Made from willow withies, baskets like this are woven in all shapes and sizes and have many uses. Basket-making is once again a thriving craft in Scotland, with makers spread throughout the country.

The withies have been soaked and dyed to create a two tone effect. Much colour has been introduced into basket-making by the willow treatments, hedgerow materials and the use of natural and artificial dyes. Colour was not a concern of the functional basket-making of the past.

In the past baskets were made from materials gathered locally for use in the home and workplace. The styles of baskets evolved more out of the need for efficiency and productivity rather than as an act of individual expression and creativity. Today the style of basket, whether functional or non-functional, comes from a response to a client's individual needs and expectations, as well as the self-expression of the maker.

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