Ancient Egyptian Basket Techniques

Twining and Plaiting

• The Egyptians used weaving techniques such as twining and plaiting to create flexible baskets made with handles that resembled bags. The weft of straw was intertwined between each warp or plaited between each warp in both methods. Matting was frequently made using these same methods and materials.

Coiling

• Cordage for coiling was made from twisted or braided strands of plant fiber. The artisan coiled the cord into spirals and sewed them together. The Egyptians used this method to make mats as well as baskets. Stitches on coils were placed far enough apart so they never touched in the bee-skep coil technique. They sewed the new stitch into the stitch of the preceding coil in the furcated coil technique. The Egyptians made storage baskets with lids using the coiling techniques. Some of these baskets had cords attached to them so that they could be hung from walls. When coiling a basket, the artisan could make the piece as small or as wide and tall as was necessary.

Wickerware

• Europeans most likely introduced the sturdiest type of basket, wickerware. Ancient remains of these baskets date to the Roman Period. The baskets were made by first creating a basket started with a base of spokes of trimmed branches were interwoven with other branches or reeds softened in water so that they would bend. Attaching straight branches to the outside of the base, the process of interweaving softened reeds to create a wall continues until the basket is complete.

Decorations

• As Egyptian artisans perfected the art of basketry and improved upon their designs, they began adding decorations to some of their baskets. They added black, white or red with the use of dyed threads to create patterns on the baskets. To further adorn baskets, shells were added.