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). The origins of telephone wire weaving is traced to Zulu night
watchmen in urban areas who, to banish loneliness and boredom on night shifts,
took to weaving coloured wire around their traditional sticks. Soon this
technique was adapted to making izimbenge (beer pot covers) and the wire bowls
we have today. This craft now encompasses enormous creativity in diverse forms.
Depending on the skill of a weaver, a small 12cm bowl can take from 3 to 5
hours to complete, whilst a large 40cm basket can take up up 40 hours to
complete. No two baskets will be identical as each artisan draws on their own
creative knowledge base to produce unique designs and patterns for each
product.
The techniques and aesthetic of traditional grass
basket-weaving have been beautifully adapted by contemporary Zulu artisans to
this contemporary material. The baskets are as bright and colourful as the
telephone wire used, and very sturdy. They are also completely washable