This antique Chinese basket dates to the 19th century and belongs to a tradition of agricultural baskets used to winnow rice or grain from the chaff, commonly referred to as Mi. Constructed from densely woven natural fibre around a substantial timber frame, the basket is reinforced with heavy wooden elements and a transverse carrying handle secured by traditional bindings. Basket making is among the oldest utilitarian crafts, and here the tightly worked, rhythmic weave shows the considerable skill required to turn locally available materials into an object capable of surviving generations of agricultural use. The deep trough form, exposed bindings, worn timber and irregular repairs retain the physical record of that working life. What began as an entirely practical rural object now reads almost as an artefact, with its construction and accumulated surface carrying far more visual weight than anything deliberately decorative.

Measures: 68 cm W × 36 cm D × 27 cm H

Conditioned for presence and atmosphere with age appropriate wear expected of a vintage piece

View by appointment only | 76 Reserve Road, Artarmon

We deliver locally from our Sydney studio and freight weekly to Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Byron Bay and Adelaide