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THE DEVELOPMENT OF BASKETRY IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL

January 14, 2019

Handmade basketry is an ancient art that produces items made of natural materials. Findings from prehistoric periods attest to the existence of basketry even before the development of pottery.

In every region of the world, people made baskets using plants that grew in the places they lived. In the Land of Israel, baskets were made using organic materials, such as straw, papyrus, reeds and palm branches. Organic materials are biodegradable, so only a few artifacts have survived to this day. Most were found in desert locations, preserved by the dry climate. Archæological digs in Israel revealed not only baskets, but also sieves and mats.

Palm branches were once used by separating them into fibers, from which the ropes were made for weaving baskets. Today, the palm fronds and date stems used for artistic basket weaving require no special processing. A basket of this type was also found at an archæological site in Israel.

The basket weaving tradition among the local Arab population involved two principal materials: Olive branches and reeds. Besides baskets, they were also used to make furniture. Today, most Israeli basketry artists use palm tree materials because of their abundance.

My baskets are handmade, using the fronds of palms that grow in the Jordan Valley, between Ein Gedi and Tiberias. Some baskets feature a combination of olive and gum tree branches that are used for decoration.

My baskets are full of love and the blessed abundance of the Land of Israel. They will fill your home with the light and harmony of the land flowing with milk and honey.

Best wishes to all.

To purchase a basket, please contact me by email.