Old Makenge Basket - Zambia 100O Vehicle and the odd small crack

and the odd small crack in the wood is part of its character

finished with a central cowrie shell surrounded by dense gold beadwork

with a slash cut on the spout

Naturally hard-wearing

just a one hour’s drive away

Old Makenge Basket - Zambia 100O Vehicle and the odd small crackThese old Makenge baskets are a testament to the weaving skills of the Mbundu and Lozi people of Zambia. Originally used to sift grains, they are now beautiful art pieces with real history. How they are made: the baskets are woven from the roots of the Makenge tree, a small tree that sends out very long, shallow roots. The fine haired roots are dug from the ground, thinned out, boiled and dyed with natural pigments, then left to dry. Each basket takes