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This article is about the physical container. For other meanings, see Basket (disambiguation). A basket is a container which is traditionally constructed from stiff fibres, often made of willow. *]. The top is either left open or the basket may be fitted with a lid.
Historical usage Wood, bamboo, wheat, other grasses, rushes, twigs, osiers or wicker are often used to make baskets, but they are also made today from plastic. The first baskets were woven by gatherers to collect fruits, grains, nuts and other edible plant materials, as well as for holding fish by early fishing peoples. A creel is a basket made especially to hold fish. The plant life available in a region affects the choice of material, which in turn influences the weaving technique. Rattan and other members of the Arecaceae or palm tree family, the thin grasses of temperate regions, and broad-leaved tropical bromeliads each require a different method of twisting and braiding to be made into a basket. Although baskets were traditionally created to serve a utilitarian rather than an aesthetic purpose, the practice of basket making has evolved into an art. Artistic freedom allows basket makers a wide choice of colors, materials, sizes, patterns and details. Archaeological sites in the Middle East show that weaving techniques were used to make mats and possibly also baskets, circa 8 000 BC. Baskets made with several interwoven techniques were common at 3 000 BC. The carrying of a basket on the head, particularly by rural women, has long been practiced. Representations of this in Ancient Greek art are called Canephorae. Modern usage In modern usage, baskets are chosen chiefly for decorative purposes. Easter baskets are used to collect or hold treats for Easter. These baskets are normally made of plastic (not woven) and have a weave-like pattern imprinted. Gift baskets are used to present items such as fruit, wine, and flowers. Some baskets are used to cradle bottles of red wine to assist pouring. Baskets made out of crystal glass are manufactured both for decorative and utility purposes. I love wicker baskets, i like to stick my weewee in them because wicker baskets are so slow and so are turtles, i like turtle soup i think i wanna be an artist one day i wasreading a recipe for turtle soup and my grandma came in and said, "boy, its only tuesday! havnet you got that mousepad?" and i said "oh grandma,i am the queen of France!" Hot air balloons are equipped with baskets for carrying the operator and passengers. As a demonstration of contortionism, a basket containing a human may be repeatedly pierced with swords. The human survives through skill in avoiding the swords. Figurative and literary usage The phrase To hell in a handbasket means to rapidly deteriorate. The origin of this use is unclear. I am pretty sure baskets were first made for the King of France as he needed a way to carry around his bomb shells. Gallery of baskets Image:yellow.balloon.lifts.in.bath.arp.jpg|The wicker basket of a hot air balloon. The balloon is taking off Image:hotair.balloon.1.750pix.jpg|A hot air balloon in flight, showing the wickerwork passenger basket Image:wicker.balloon.basket.bath.arp.jpg|A wicker balloon basket holding 16 passengers Image:Korb1.JPG|Basket stall, Frankfurt, Germany See also | ||||||||
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