Contemporary Zulu telephone wire basket
Aron Ngobo
About the SessionA strong contemporary thread runs throughout the sale, rooted in long-standing tradition. Selective historic textiles offer a vital counterpoint and illuminate the deep sources that continue to inspire contemporary makers.
About this Item
Notes
Contemporary wire baskets evolved from the traditional imbenge beer pot covers, once woven from plant fibre. In some regions, these were embellished with beadwork — either stitched into the weave or fashioned as circular discs to cover the lid. The introduction of wire transformed the craft, enabling greater intricacy, colour variation, and durability, uniting design and function in a single process.
These wire lids gradually evolved into full baskets, increasing in size and becoming celebrated contemporary expressions of Zulu artistry — echoing patterns found in traditional beadwork, earplugs, and matracks.
Literature
David Arment and Marisa Fick-Jordan (2005) Wired: Contemporary Zulu Telephone Wire Baskets, Sante Fe: S/C Editions, pages 161.
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