Coiled Basketry Through Time in Ancient Egypt – Creating a Coiled Basket
There are numerous steps to creating a coiled basket. The first is preparing the materials as they may have been gathered some time before and stored until needed. The materials both for the core, such as the date palm fruit stems, straw, or sedges, and the wrapping material, including palm leaves or halfa grass, are gathered in one area (Wendrich, 1999; 150, 279) (Wendrich, 2000; 256). These materials are then soaked to replenish the suppleness needed when manipulating the form of the basket. The wrapping material, be it palm leaf or straw, is also soaked to renew it’s textile strength (Wendrich, 1999; 303). Once the materials have been prepared and the tools assembled, one can begin to build a basket.
Beginning the coil is the most difficult of the process, often because of a desire to make the basket appear as flawless as possible; if not prepared correctly, the base of the basket may appear lumpy and unsightly. Tapering the core materials and wrapping to create a snail-shape allows the initial coiling to take place at a more acute degree than if the core coil began with the entire core all at once. A separate base is another way to avoid unsightly clumping at the bottom of the basket, often appearing in the form of a leather or plaited base (Wendrich, 1999; 304). The wrapping of the core material begins immediately, with the awl boring holes in the previous layer of coils to ease the passage of the wrapping material, sometimes aided by a needle, through the core and previous layer of wrapping material, anchoring the new layer of coiling (Wendrich, 1999; 306).
Neither the core material nor the wrapping material was meant to last through the whole basket. Material needed to be added to the basket as the construction progressed. As the core material began to run out, more of the material was added, though not all at once, but at a slow pace to keep the basket’s coils even. When the basket reached the desired size, the core material would either be allowed to taper to an end, creating a smooth finish, or would be cut off for an abrupt end to the coil. There are two methods that have been recorded by archaeologists of adding more of the wrapping material. The simplest version is the action of pushing the original strand of wrapping material aside and beginning with a fresh piece of wrapping. A more elaborate process calls for the new strand to be wrapped around the old strand, securing both strands (Wendrich, 1999; 307).
The wrapping of the coiled baskets often created patterns. These patterns were both dyed patterns, usually in the form of previously dyed halfa grass, and different types of stitches used in wrapping the baskets. Designs were decided upon in regards to the type of base used to begin making the basket. The colored patterns are most often found on baskets with the snail-shaped coil beginning, while the patterns derived from using different stitches were associated with leather or plaited bases (Wendrich, 1999; 307). A technique called inlay was also used to decorate coiled baskets. This technique consisted of a second element that was added to the wrapping strand. As the initial wrapping strand is brought around the core, the inlay strand is folded beneath the wrap. The inlay element is then folded back over the newly made wrapping stitch as another stitch is made. The folding of the inlay under the stitch is repeated, creating a taught mosaic-like surface (Wendrich, 1999; 166).
There are numerous ways to finish the rim of a basket. In poorly executed coiled baskets, this termination is abrupt and not very aesthetic, leaving a stub of the core material. To create a smooth ending, the core material would taper away, much the same way as how a fully coiled basket would begin (Wendrich, 1999; 308). Additions were added both to strengthen the structure of the basket and to add decoration. Another layer of wrappings may be added to the rim of the basket, reinforcing the overall structure of the basket. It has been recorded that some subsequent stitching, similar to embroidery, was added to the body of the basket to create patterns while not troubling the basket maker with fancy patterns through the actual basket making process. In the case of leather based baskets, the rim would usually be wrapped with leather (Wendrich, 1999; 308). Additional coils have also been noted along the inside of the rim on which lids would rest and on the bottom of the basket acting as feet. These, too, would be added after the initial production of the baskets (Wendrich, 1999; 309).
© 2011, Page Strong. All rights reserved.
That's a Wrap!
Questions? E-mail the Scribe!
About The Author
Comments