Basket 350239 224353704 2008-07-08T14:02:55Z Jackie 7370508 interwiki: ru :''This article is about the physical container. For other meanings, see [[Basket (disambiguation)]]''. [[Image:baskets four styles.jpg|thumb|350px|Four styles of household basket.]] A '''basket''' is a container which is traditionally constructed from stiff [[fiber|fibre]]s, often made of [[willow]]. [http://www.bluestem.ca/willows-basketry.htm]. The top is either left open or the basket may be fitted with a lid. ==Historical usage== [[Wood]], [[bamboo]], [[wheat]], other [[Poaceae|grass]]es, [[Juncaceae|rush]]es, [[twig]]s, [[osier]]s, or [[wicker]] are often used to make baskets. These items can also made today from [[plastic]]. The first baskets were woven by gatherers to collect [[fruit]]s, [[cereal|grain]]s, [[nut (fruit)|nut]]s, and other edible plant materials, as well as for holding [[fish]] by early [[fishing]] humans. A [[creel (basket)|creel]] is a basket made especially to hold fish. The plant life available in a region affects the choice of material, which in turn influences the weaving technique. [[Rattan]] and other members of the [[Arecaceae]] or [[palm tree]] family, the thin grasses of temperate regions, and broad-leaved tropical [[bromeliad]]s each require a different method of twisting and braiding to be made into an effective basket. Although baskets were traditionally created to serve a utilitarian rather than an aesthetic purpose, the practice of basket making has evolved into an [[art]]. Artistic freedom allows basket makers a wide choice of colors, [[material]]s, sizes, patterns, and details. {{commons|Basket}} Archaeological sites in the Middle East show that weaving techniques were used to make mats and possibly also baskets, circa [[9th millennium BC|8&nbsp;000&nbsp;BC]]. Baskets made with several interwoven techniques were common at [[4th millennium BC|3&nbsp;000&nbsp;BC]]. The carrying of a basket on the head, particularly by rural women, has long been practiced. Representations of this in [[Ancient Greek art]] are called [[Canephorae]]. Overturned woven baskets are used drummed by the [[Tohono O'odham]] to accompany [[song]]s (Zepeda 1995, p.89). ==Modern usage== In modern usage, baskets are chosen chiefly for decorative purposes. [[Easter]] baskets are used to collect or hold treats for Easter. These baskets are normally made of plastic (not woven) and have a weave-like pattern imprinted. Gift baskets are used to present items such as [[fruit]], [[wine]], and [[flower]]s. Some baskets are used to cradle bottles of red wine to assist pouring. Baskets made out of crystal [[glass]] are manufactured both for decorative and utility purposes. [[Hot air balloon]]s are equipped with baskets for carrying the operator and passengers. As a demonstration of [[contortionism]], a basket containing a human may be repeatedly pierced with [[sword]]s. The human survives through skill in avoiding the swords. ==Figurative and literary usage== The phrase "[[to hell in a handbasket]]" means ''to rapidly deteriorate''. The origin of this use is unclear. == Gallery of baskets == <gallery widths="250px" heights="200px" perrow="3"> Image:wicker.balloon.basket.bath.arp.jpg|A wicker balloon basket holding 16 passengers Image:Korb1.JPG|Basket stall, Frankfurt, Germany Image:Basket 493 (PSF).png|Deep long-handled carrying basket Image:Hubbell baskets.jpeg|Old American Indian baskets, [[Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site]] </gallery> ==See also== *[[Basket weaving]] *[[Canephorae]] *[[Weaving]] ==External links== *[http://www.bcgov.net/bftlib/sweetgra.htm Sweetgrass Baskets (African-American, South Carolina) -- Beaufort County Library] ==Source== *Zepeda, Ofelia (1995). ''Ocean Power: Poems from the Desert''. ISBN 0816515417. [[Category:Containers]] [[als:Zeine]] [[an:Capazo]] [[gn:Ajaka]] [[bg:Кошница]] [[ca:Cistell]] [[de:Korb (Behälter)]] [[es:Cesta]] [[eo:Korbo]] [[fr:Vannier (métier)]] [[gd:Cliabh]] [[lb:Kierfmécher]] [[nl:Mand]] [[ja:籠]] [[pl:Kosz (pojemnik)]] [[pt:Cesto]] [[ru:Корзина]] [[qu:Isanka]] [[simple:Basket]] [[sv:Korgflätning]] [[bat-smg:Krėžis]]