Papua Handcrafted Basket

This basket was handcrafted with care by artisans who live in remote and rugged villages in the mountain region of Papua Indonesia. The process to create a basket begins with a long trek into the jungle to search for enough of a rare reed called Rotan. The Rotan must be pulled down from trees or cut with machetes and de-thorned before the drying, peeling and smoothing process can begin. Once complete colour is often added by soaking it in mud or using berries to dye the Rotan. It is a difficult and treacherous job to work with this thorny reed. It takes weeks sometimes months to weave one item. Once the basket is finished it is carried, often by foot, over many miles to start on its way to you. Men, women and children are all learning this trade. Each artisan is known by name. Their smile lights up as they create this mountain basket treasure just for you.