This is a fabulous old African basket - made of natural fibers.
It is a genuine and old piece - not made yesterday! I am assuming that it dates to the 1940s.
I am not quite sure what the quiver is made from - but it is either fine and thin strips of wood / bark - or slices of rushes. The carcass of the basket is tough and hard - and generally rigid and you are not able to easily squash it.
I think that this might be a carry case for arrows or quivers - hence its tall shape - or perhaps a carrying basket which might contain a long gourd which would store water in and you would carry it in this basket on long journeys.
I would probably err on the side of it being for hunting arrows.
It was purchased by me over 10 years ago at an auction in Edinburgh - and only just got around to listing it - it was not a cheap item when I purchased it - and it came from a specialist sale from an ethnographic collection - I am dating it to be early 20th century - and not a later tourist piece.
The fibers that the basket is woven from have a natural patina of age which you could not replicate on more modern pieces.
The basket is tube shape - round at the top and at the bottom, it is a square shape, as photographed. There are little decorative diamonds at each corner on the base.
There is a finely pleated carrying handle as shown. The basket has no losses or damages - as fine an example as you might find. Makes a fascinating display piece - and great for storing longer crafting items in and hanging up. Or just a fine old item to add to your collection of old African collectables.
Dimensions: overall body height is 12 1/4 inches. The diameter at the top is 3 1/2 inches. The width at the base is about 4 3/4 inches.
It is a genuine and old piece - not made yesterday! I am assuming that it dates to the 1940s.
I am not quite sure what the quiver is made from - but it is either fine and thin strips of wood / bark - or slices of rushes. The carcass of the basket is tough and hard - and generally rigid and you are not able to easily squash it.
I think that this might be a carry case for arrows or quivers - hence its tall shape - or perhaps a carrying basket which might contain a long gourd which would store water in and you would carry it in this basket on long journeys.
I would probably err on the side of it being for hunting arrows.
It was purchased by me over 10 years ago at an auction in Edinburgh - and only just got around to listing it - it was not a cheap item when I purchased it - and it came from a specialist sale from an ethnographic collection - I am dating it to be early 20th century - and not a later tourist piece.
The fibers that the basket is woven from have a natural patina of age which you could not replicate on more modern pieces.
The basket is tube shape - round at the top and at the bottom, it is a square shape, as photographed. There are little decorative diamonds at each corner on the base.
There is a finely pleated carrying handle as shown. The basket has no losses or damages - as fine an example as you might find. Makes a fascinating display piece - and great for storing longer crafting items in and hanging up. Or just a fine old item to add to your collection of old African collectables.
Dimensions: overall body height is 12 1/4 inches. The diameter at the top is 3 1/2 inches. The width at the base is about 4 3/4 inches.