9" Tall, 14" Circumference
Brightly colored telephone wire is tightly wound around a glass vase/bottle, which can be used for dry or cut flowers.
These bottles are recycled from restaurants and covered in telephone wire to make beautiful vases and home decor.
You will receive the basket pictured.
Sometimes you see a Zulu basket and you know you love it.
It is also the only one of its kind in the world.
Spectacular Platter for Display or Serving
Baskets Similar to This Sell for Twice the Price.
Fabulous Addition for a Collector.
The Zulus are the largest tribe in Southern Africa, renowned for their artistry and craftsmanship.
"The telephone wire basket is a relatively recent craft development which reflects the ingenuity of craftspeople. Brightly coloured telephone wires are used to great creative effect, decoratively covering objects such as bottles and walking sticks, or made into plates and baskets."
(Todres, 1998 Guide to South African Arts, Culture and Heritage).
Worldesigns is in the process of helping a group of South African telephone wire weavers to become financially independent. We hope that their unique art form will appeal to you and that we can continue to sell their artwork. Our long term goal is to improve their standard of living and provide access to education for their children.
This coiling technique is unique to the greater Durban area. The designs that are incorporated relate to beadwork patterns and have been extended to include figuration and text-usually depicting objects or animals in their own daily lives or text that has some personal or social meaning for them.
The weavers who produce these one-of-a-kind "Hard Wire" Plates tell us that they hate 'churning out' the plates as they see each one as a story.
This an exquisite art piece and a usable serving piece. Telephone wire baskets are very popular and hard to find. Each one is unique and this is a traditional pattern. This piece is solidly made and heavy. Absolutely gorgeous! It has a lovely shape. Phenomenally crafted and shaped. Marvel at the talent used to make this true work of usable art. Wash with warm soapy water! Extraordinary!
Purchase will be shipped once payment clears. New York State residents add sales tax. See our other wonderful gift items and save on shipping by making multiple purchases. Email queries welcomed. Auction winner agrees to respond by email within 3 days and pay within 10. If you are not a serious buyer please do not bid. If you do not send payment within that time without having made other arrangements a case will be oped to cancel your purchase.
If you aren't already known for your great gifts, shop with us and earn a fabulous reputation. We work hard to find unusual, affordable and enduring gifts for our customers to order from home! You'll be amazed by the variety of very special gift items we have collected from all over the world.
Check out our ebay store for other wonderful Zulu and African crafts.
Shopping Cart
