Wicker baskets and wicker furniture have a long, long history. The oldest known baskets have been carbon dated to between 10,000 and 12,000 years old, earlier than any established dates for archeological finds of pottery! They were discovered in Faiyum in upper Egypt and more have been found in Pompeii. However, baskets seldom survive, as they are made from perishable materials. The most common evidence of a knowledge of basketry is an imprint of the weave on fragments of clay pots, formed by packing clay on the walls of the basket and firing.
Traditionally baskets are containers which are constructed from stiff fibres, often made of willow or wicker which is light but sturdy, making it ideal for furniture and storage. Other popular materials are bamboo, rattan, seagrass and reed. Materials used can be any part of a plant, such as the cores of cane and rattan stalks, or whole thicknesses of plants, as with willow switches. The top is either left open or the basket may be fitted with a lid and may also have a handle or embellishments. If a more pliant material is used (such as seagrass) then a metal frame is commonly used to weave around. The plant life available in a region affects the choice of material, which in turn influences the weaving technique.
Most baskets begin with a base. The 'static' pieces of the work are laid down first. In a round basket they are referred to as 'spokes'; in other shapes they are called 'stakes' or 'staves'. Then the 'weavers' are used to fill in the sides of a basket. A wide variety of patterns can be made by changing the size, colour or by placement of a certain style of weave.
