A finely constructed coiled basket made by the Uru-Chipaya people of the Bolivian altiplano, formed from bundles of locally gathered aquatic rushes and secured with narrow strips of leather.
The basket is built outward in a continuous spiral, with the dark leather stitching creating a strong radiating pattern across the warm golden-brown rush foundation. The dense, rhythmic construction gives the piece an almost graphic quality, while subtle irregularities reveal the hand of the maker.
Baskets of this type were traditionally used in the handling and transport of quinoa, one of the essential crops of the high Andean plateau. Their materials and construction reflect the Uru-Chipaya’s close relationship with the wetlands and austere landscape of the Oruro region.
This example comes from a documented group from Sabaya Province and retains the wear, tonal variation, and surface character of a utilitarian object made for daily use.
Size: 3" x 10" x10" [8cm x 25cm x 25cm]
Age: Early 20th CenturyÂ
Origin: Sabaya Province, Department of Oruro, Bolivia
Material: Local aquatic rushes and leather strips
Condition: Very goodÂ
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OB097
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