GULLAH COILED GRASS BASKETS - Baskets from Sea Island, SC. Circa 1993.
Circular basket measures: 9/12"x10"
Square basket measures 10"x10"

The Gullah tradition of creating coiled grass baskets is a craft that has been handed down from generation to generation and is rooted in West African art. The baskets were originally used for agriculture, but as they evolved to become more household items, weavers began using softer sweetgrass instead of bulrush.  Instead of weaving the baskets, a needle made from a spoon handle, bone, or nail is used to sew natural materials together.

Gullah baskets are made using a variety of materials and techniques, including:
Materials: Sweetgrass, palmetto leaves, longleaf pine needles, and black rush.
Tools: A sharp knife or scissors to cut the grass, and a needle made from a spoon handle, bone, or nail to sew the materials together.
Techniques: Coiled weaving, where the weaver bundles dried sweetgrass into circles and holds them together with palmetto leaves.
Patterns: An over-under pattern with different sizes of weaving reeds.