Antique Chinese Willow Basket

In China willow symbolizes renewal, spring, and immortality.

In China willow symbolizes renewal, spring, and immortality.

In China willow symbolizes renewal, spring, and immortality.

Woven with a delightfully unusual form, this early 20th century basket was originally used to steam mantou buns in a provincial home in Shanxi province. The boat-shaped basket is for...

Centuries ago, a reed fisherman’s basket like this one would have been fairly common in rural China: an everyday item that would have been used until it was worn through.

In China, willow symbolizes renewal, spring, and immortality.

Basket making is an ancient and humble craft, but in the hands of a skilled weaver a simple willow basket becomes a truly beautiful statement.

Basket making is an ancient and humble craft, but in the hands of a skilled weaver a simple willow basket becomes a truly beautiful statement.

Basket making is an ancient and humble craft, but in the hands of a skilled weaver a simple willow basket becomes a truly beautiful statement. The artisan’s mastery is evident in thi...

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

In China willow symbolizes renewal, spring, and immortality.

In China, willow symbolizes renewal, spring, and immortality.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a reed fisherman’s basket like this one would have been fairly common in rural China: an everyday item that would have been used until it was worn through.

Humble in origin, this intricately woven basket, likely used to collect grain, exhibits remarkable workmanship. Fiber-wrapped wood defines an octagonal rim, while intricately woven w...

Humble in origin, this intricately woven basket, likely used to collect grain, exhibits remarkable workmanship. Fiber-wrapped wood defines an octagonal rim, while intricately woven w...

Basket making is an ancient and humble craft, but in the hands of a skilled weaver a simple willow basket can become a truly beautiful work of art.

This bent handle basket was made in China long ago, and the artisan’s mastery is evident: the strong, flexible willow strips are skillfully intertwined into a delicate pattern.

This bent handle basket was made in China long ago, and the artisan’s mastery is evident: the strong, flexible willow strips are skillfully intertwined into a delicate pattern.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Basket making is an ancient and humble craft, but in the hands of a skilled weaver a simple willow basket becomes a truly beautiful statement. The artisan’s mastery is evident in thi...

It is easy to imagine someone, long ago, gathering a harvest from their garden or strolling to the market with this beautiful basket tucked under their arm. Hand-woven of young willo...

It is easy to imagine someone, long ago, gathering a harvest from their garden or strolling to the market with this beautiful basket tucked under their arm. Hand-woven of young willo...

Woven with a delightfully unusual form, this early 20th century basket was originally used to steam mantou buns in a Provincial home in Shanxi province. The boat-shaped basket is for...

It is easy to imagine someone, long ago, gathering a harvest from their garden or strolling to the market with this beautiful basket tucked under their arm. Hand-woven of young willo...

It is easy to imagine someone, long ago, gathering a harvest from their garden or strolling to the market with this beautiful basket tucked under their arm. Hand-woven of young willo...

It is easy to imagine someone, long ago, gathering a harvest from their garden or strolling to the market with this beautiful basket tucked under their arm. Hand-woven of young willo...

Basket making is an ancient and humble craft, but in the hands of a skilled weaver a simple willow basket can become a truly beautiful work of art. This bent handle basket is closely...

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through.

Woven with a delightfully unusual form, this early 20th century basket was originally used to steam mantou buns in a Provincial home in Shanxi province. The boat-shaped basket is for...

Woven with a delightfully unusual form, this early 20th century basket was originally used to steam mantou buns in a provincial home in Shanxi province. The boat-shaped basket is for...

It is easy to imagine someone, long ago, walking to market on a summer day with this beautiful basket tucked under their arm. Expertly woven from young willow branches, this large ma...

It is easy to imagine someone, long ago, gathering a harvest from their garden or strolling to the market with this beautiful basket tucked under their arm. The round basket has been...

It is easy to imagine someone, long ago, gathering a harvest from their garden or strolling to the market with this beautiful basket tucked under their arm. The round basket has been...

It is easy to imagine someone, long ago, gathering a harvest from their garden or strolling to the market with this beautiful basket tucked under their arm. The round basket has been...

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through. This 19th-century example re...

Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through. This late 19th-century examp...