Left: Basket woven of yucca fiber, found in a kiva at Mug House, Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado), Anasazi Culture, MVM. Right: Yucca fiber, best suited for items that would get rough use such as baskets and sandals.
MVM = Mesa Verde National Park Museum (Colorado)

A coiled basket with black geometric pattern. Diameter: 8.4 inches, Sinagua Culture, MNA.
MNA = Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff (Arizona)

This basket, collected around the turn of the century (1900), is a stunning example. It is woven of spruce roots and multicolored grasses. The blue color is created with huckleberries. (38 cm, ASM)
ASM = Alaska State Museum, Juneau

A small, densely woven basket with lid. The material is dyed and undyed sweet grass, interwoven to create a scene with water birds and a whaling canoe hunting a killer whale. The basket was acquired from the Makah in 1880. (Ø 24 cm, VM)
VM = Völkerkundemuseum der Universität Zürich

Around 1900 this little basket was the property of the Thompson River Salish, an Inland Salish group who lived in the area where the Thompson flows into the Fraser River. They carried on an active trade with the Stalo Halkomelem, who lived further down the Fraser River, and so acquired this basket. A Stalo woman wove it out of cedar roots, dyed grasses and bark fibers. (16 cm, NMM)
NMM = National Museum of Man, Ottawa

The mats of the Coast Salish were originally woven of the spun woolly hair of the mountain goat and small dogs that were bred especially for this purpose. Although today weavers use sheep's wool, they have retained the traditional stylistic elements. The rug pictured was woven by Krista Point (see 112) who spun the wool herself and dyed it with natural dyes. She says that the pattern of connected triangles represents butterflies. (87 cm)

The majority of Paraguay's Indians are Guaranis. You also meet them in the Argentinean province of Misiones. This indigenous woman is sitting outside her house, weaving a basket. - 1973

The majority of Paraguay's Indians are Guaranis. You also meet them in the Argentinean province of Misiones. This indigenous man is sitting outside her house, weaving a basket. - 1973

The coffee harvest takes place at different times of the year in most of the Central American republics. Coffee trees are one of the main natural resources of the countries of the subcontinent. Drying of the beans takes place immediately after the harvest of the precious commodity. This operation is carried out in an ingenio (factory) established on the slopes of the mountain, in all regions where coffee trees are particularly well represented. - 1977

Coffee plantation near Santa Ana in El Salvador. Coffee is harvested in most Central American republics and at different times of the year. It is one of the most important natural resources of the subcontinent. Immediately after the harvest, the beans are dried. This process takes place in factories built on the hillsides of the more important plantation areas. - 1977

Young Mayan woman at the Friday market in San Francisco El Alto in the department of Totonicapán, Guatemala. Following the example of their ancestors from pre-Columbian times, Mayan women today still carry everything on their heads, the laundry they washed at the river, the fruits, utensils, edibles and small pets they want to sell at the market. To do so, they use magnificent baskets made by the artisans of their community. - 1977

A Mayan woman at the Friday market in San Francisco El Alto in the department of Totonicapán, Guatemala. Following the example of their ancestors from pre-Columbian times, Mayan women today still carry everything on their heads, the laundry they washed at the river, the fruits, utensils, edibles and small pets they want to sell at the market. To do so, they use magnificent baskets made by the artisans of their community. - 1977

Mother and child photographed on the road from Quezaltenango to the capital of Guatemala. Like their more distant pre-Columbian ancestors, today's Mayan women carry everything on their heads: the clothes they have washed at the river, the products of the land and crafts, the provisions for the road or even the small domestic animals they go to sell at the nearest market. For this purpose, they use beautiful baskets made by artists from their community. The youngest child in the family accompanies his mother on all her journeys. Thus, from a very young age, the Indian child comes into contact with all the realities of the daily life of the woman to whom he owes his birth. - 1977

A basket trader at the Murzuk market sells her wares. - Libya - 1964

A girl at the Murzuk market. Its elegant posture comes from learning to carry heavy loads on its head at a very early age. - Libya - 1964

A basket trader advertises her wares. - Port of Kabara - Mali - 1969

Two shepherds, on their right a negroid woman. The latter has a white hairstyle and a white loincloth. The breasts are visible. She carries a basket in her right hand and an unspecified object in her left. The figures on the left are less precise. Between the two is an indeterminable circular structure. The woman is 0.16 m tall. Red and white ochre painting. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - Ozeneare - 1993

464 - Ozeneare (Tassili-n'Ajjer). – Two shepherds, including a Negroid woman on the right. She has a white hairstyle and a white loincloth. Her breasts are visible. She holds a basket in her right hand and an indeterminate object in her left. The character on the left is less defined. Between the two, there is an indeterminate circular structure. The woman is 0.16 m tall. Red ochre and white painting.

In the Moluccas, carrying baskets on the head is a traditional and widespread method of transporting goods, crops or shopping. – Ambon – 1990

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) originates from southern India and Sri Lanka and belongs to the ginger family. In India, it is grown particularly in the states of Kerala (e.g. in the Idukki district) and Tamil Nadu, in shaded gardens or plantations. The pod-like fruits are harvested by hand when they turn a bright green colour. Each pod contains small black seeds inside, which are responsible for the intense aroma. Cardamom is one of the world’s most valuable spices and is often referred to as ‘green gold’ due to its significance. – Kerala – 1990

At Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market, better known as Crawford Market, a woman sells sugar apples (Annona squamosa), also known as cinnamon apples or sitaphal. – Mumbai – 1990

A scene at Crawford Market (now Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai) in Mumbai. The men, known as hamals (porters), balance goods in large woven baskets on their heads. – 1990

A typical four-wheeled handcart with large, spoked metal wheels, of the sort often found at street markets in India. The vendor is wearing a traditional orange sari with a blue and white striped scarf loosely draped over her head and shoulders. She is selling apples from the cart. - Crawford Market – Mumbai – 1990

At Indian markets such as this one in Udaipur, various types of green leafy vegetables and herbs are often sold in handy bunches directly on the street or at weekly markets. The produce is typically displayed in traditional, flat wicker baskets, which allow for good ventilation of the delicate greens. - 1990

In Udaipur, carrying loads on one’s head is deeply rooted in the culture: women in Rajasthan are known for carrying heavy loads such as water jugs (matkas), firewood or baskets of goods on their heads. This is stabilised by a fabric ring on the head, which is a very efficient carrying technique. – 1990

An Indian woman in a pink sari sits by the roadside, weaving flowers into garlands. This scene is typical of the bustling markets in the Udaipur region of Rajasthan. Such garlands are often used as offerings to deities in temples or presented during religious rituals such as the morning aarti. The art of weaving flower garlands is a centuries-old craft. - 1990

A subji-walli (vegetable seller) in India. She is sitting in a doorway in Udaipur behind baskets containing various vegetables such as spring onions, aubergines, cauliflower and green courgettes. The woman wears a traditional yellow odhni (headscarf) over a pink blouse. This type of street trading is widespread in India and provides a livelihood for many families. – 1990

A street vendor in Udaipur selling local fruit, vegetables and spices to passers-by. Udaipur is situated in a region steeped in history. In the moonlight, the palaces on the lakeshore evoke memories of tales from “One Thousand and One Nights”. – 1990

A man sits on the steps of the famous Adinath Temple in Ranakpur. This temple is renowned worldwide for its 1,444 individually carved marble pillars, none of which are alike. The bright red turban is a distinctive feature of the Rabari herdsmen. It symbolises honour and pride and also serves as practical protection against the Rajasthani sun. The flowers in the basket (often roses and marigolds) are sold as offerings for the religious rituals in the temple. Visitors purchase these to place them before the statue of Lord Adinath, the first Tirthankara (spiritual teacher) of the Jains. – 1990

A flower seller outside a temple in Ranakpur, making garlands of orange marigolds (Tagetes). These flowers are of great cultural significance in India and are frequently used for religious offerings, temple visits and festivals such as Diwali. – 1990

A young girl in Jodhpur balances a woven basket on her head. The image documents the historically and socially deeply rooted practice of manual scavenging in South Asia. This involves carrying faeces or waste directly on the head. In practice, this work often falls to women and children from marginalised communities (such as the Dalits), who occupy the lowest rung of the traditional caste system. – 1990

Threshing grain is a traditional agricultural technique in which grains are separated from the chaff by dropping them into the wind from a certain height. A woman lifts a basket to clean the grain in the wind, whilst a man sits on the ground and sifts the grain. It is likely to be pearl millet. In Hindi and the local Rajasthani language, this nutrient-rich grain is called bajra. It is extremely drought-resistant and a staple food for the people in this desert region (e.g. in the form of bajre ki roti, a flatbread). – Area around Jodhpur – 1990

A man is sitting on the ground, sifting the grain. It is likely pearl millet. In Hindi and the local language Rajasthani, this nutrient-rich grain is called bajra. It is extremely drought-resistant and a staple food for the people in this desert region (e.g. in the form of bajre ki roti, a flatbread). – Area around Jodhpur – 1990

A woman is performing the ritual known as ‘threshing’, in which grain (such as millet or wheat) is thrown into the air so that the wind separates the lighter chaff from the heavier grains. The woman is wearing many bracelets, which are an essential status symbol for married women in Rajasthan. Wearing many bracelets – particularly those made of materials such as coloured glass, clay or the traditional lac (resin) – indicates that a woman is married and symbolically serves to ensure her husband’s protection, health and long life. – Jodhpur area – 1990

In Cajamarca, situated at an altitude of 2,960 metres, Francisco Pizarro lured the Inca Atahualpa into an ambush and took him prisoner. To this day, the ‘Camara de rescate’ is on display – the room that Atahualpa had filled with gold. However, the ransom did not save him from a violent death. Cajamarca has largely retained its colonial character to this day, and with its 30,000 inhabitants, it is a bustling market town: a market vendor spins her wool as she walks. - Book: Picture 84 - Peru - 1976

In Cajamarca, situated at an altitude of 2,960 metres, Francisco Pizarro lured the Inca Atahualpa into an ambush and took him prisoner. To this day, the ‘Camara de rescate’ – the room that Atahualpa had filled with gold – is on display. However, the ransom did not save him from a violent death. Cajamarca has largely retained its colonial character to this day, and with its 30,000 inhabitants, it is a bustling market town: a market vendor carries her new hat home on top of her old one. - Book: Picture 86 - Peru - 1976

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