beer basket; ukhamba

Zulu beer basket made of coiled ilala palm fibre (Hyphaene coriacea), and is decorated with a zigzag pattern in shades of brown and black, produced with Euclea root dye. Baskets of this type were traditionally used to hold locally brewed, low alcohol beer used for both social and religious purposes.

2010.11 and 2010.12 are both decorative baskets and would have been made for sale. Local, natural dye would probably have been used in their manufacture.

Collection Information

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