Lovely vintage basket hand made by the Yanomami Indians from the Amazon River Basin, Brazil. This gathering basket is unusual because it has an open weave, rather than the tight weave typical of Yanomami baskets. It's flexible, but has some stronger natural fibers added for strength near the top and bottom. The basket doesn't sit quite level, and has some damage on the very center bottom (see photos). It looks great sitting on a surface, perhaps in a grouping with other baskets, or hanging on a wall. The buy basket is in good condition, with some areas of discoloration and minor flaws (as well as the damage mentioned earlier).
This was purchased in the 1980s in Brazil but could be older (early to mid 20th century). The Yanomami people, who live in the rain forests in Brazil and Venezuela, are the largest tribe in Brazil that is still relatively isolated. Since the 1940s, when they faced their first sustained contact with outside cultures, the Yanomami have been threatened by many factors, including deforestation, illegal miners, governmental neglect, and most recently Covid. This was purchased in a government-run store in Sao Paulo established to benefit Brazilian artisans and indigenous people.
Size: 23 inches across x 5 inches tall
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Product code: Yanomami Gathering Basket, Vintage Amazon Indian Basket buy