Basket
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2008-07-08T14:02:55Z
Jackie
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:''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|8 000 BC]]. Baskets made with several interwoven techniques were common at [[4th millennium BC|3 000 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]]
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[[bg:Кошница]]
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[[es:Cesta]]
[[eo:Korbo]]
[[fr:Vannier (métier)]]
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[[lb:Kierfmécher]]
[[nl:Mand]]
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[[pl:Kosz (pojemnik)]]
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[[ru:Корзина]]
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