Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Ye'kwana Basket Weaving









Imagine my daughter's surprise when she ran across this add in the Simple Magazine!!!



After all, she grew up surrounded by Ye'kwana Baskets!

She has even made a few of her own!



20 comments:

Pen of Jen said...

Wonder how much $$ heads back to the basket weaver?

firepig said...

Pen of Jen, I have seen these pieces in museum stores for as much as 350.00 usd

I had one, but gave it to my son's piano teacher years ago, thinking I could get more quite easily, and when I went back to Hansi in El Hatillo to find another one they had gone way up in price and i didn't have the money.
They are absolutely impeccable.Mine had little monkey's on the side, which I was told( do not know if true) was the God who brought the Yuca to the world.

Rita Loca said...

firepig,
The basket from the Alto Caura are the best. I can look at the basket and tell you which village it came from.
The legend in regards to the monkey is varied. There are three distinct legends and it depends on which river the village is from.
The monkey is mostly identified with mischievousness.
I have many baskets, some were gifts, some I purchased or accepted in trade. They are priceless to me now!
We laugh because my daughter would make baskets and sell them along with the indian girls. Someone has an authentic Ye'kwana basket, made by a blonde, blue eyed gringa!

Brenda said...

Do you have any at your house? They would be fun to see.

Rita Loca said...

brenda, My kitchen is full of them and I have several stored away.

Betty said...

I love woven baskets! On our way to Asuncion there are people living along side the road, and they offer a simpler kind of woven basket. Once we actually stopped and bought some. They are great for my grocery shopping. But these ones in your photo´s are much much prettier and I would love to get my hand on one of those!

Unknown said...

I have some in my home! Thanks to you all!

Liz said...

This city girl lives near the high priced stores that firepig refers to... so, I don't have any!!!

Love to have a big one, like the ones pictured near the plane. But in Caracas they are as expensive as in the USA, go figure...

Saludos Rita, te voy a escribir mas tarde :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi again! I'm enjoying reading through your jungle entries. Fascinating! Am still waiting for the book! :) We'll be in Asuncion over the holidays to visit my mother-in-law. She's the one I wrote about a few days ago who is a Paraguayan who will eat anything. Imagine my surprise when my husband told me yesterday that she wouldn't try our wedding cake, which was carrot! I hadn't noticed! :) Well, would you like me to bring you some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or anything? :)

Findalis said...

Maybe she should start weaving and selling. She could make a pretty penny and it is good, honest work.

Mountain Mama said...

I can imagine her surprise and how fun! The basket is really beautiful.
I have always thought it would be a really fun craft to learn.

Saur♥Kraut said...

You know, I was just going to say exactly the same thing that Pen of Jen said. That's HUGE money.

What pretty baskets!

WomanHonorThyself said...

simple but soooooooooooooo wonderful!

MightyMom said...

$85 ???!!!

a) anything hand make like that is worth much more

b) I'd never spend that much money on one particular thing...which is why I don't have any hahah.

MightyMom said...

I don't know if you're in their delivery area or not..but it's worth a try!!


http://ironiccatholic.blogspot.com/2008/10/parish-hands-out-chicken-noodle-soup-to.html

Rita Loca said...

kath, How kind of you! If you would like to leave me your email, I will not post it and be able to contact you directly.

CrimeSceneFairy said...

Cool beans!
I mean
Baskets.
:D

firepig said...

Liz,

Nice to hear from you.Hope all is well.What a lovely part of Caracas, El Hatillo.I lived in Caurimare.

JM, That's funny about your daughter having made some of the baskets!

Do you think the Yekwana are earning a fair price for their baskets?

Anonymous said...

I have one of those! :-) It's neat to see it in the process of being made. And to make it to an American magazine sale - wow!

Is there anything specific they use the baskets for, or just everyday catch-alls and carry-alls?

Rita Loca said...

firepig, I do not know what they are receiving now. In the past, they received a fair price from some American group who paid about 30-40% for the larger baskets, depending on quality, and bought in bulk. we helped them form a co op to move and sell their atesania. I know they incurred cost in shipping as well.
With the current problems in Venezuela, I doubt there is much of a market among the criollos.