Binga Tonga Basket 14½'' wall decor African Art Zimbabwe Goqwe #1

Description

Rectangle 2" deep basket.  Very rare shape.
To easily see my other baskets click on my store category AFRICAN ART.
Size 14½" across  2" deep.
This is a Goqwe basket - Goqwe (Go-Qway) is a town/village/area in north central Zim.  Very isolated - thus they developed their own style.  Quite obvious placed beside a Tonga/Binga basket.  (especially the rim)  Baskets were much more in Goqwe and far less plentiful.  A real shame I did not buy more the few times in the area.
Find Goqwe on Google Earth,  true rural Zimbabwe.  Goqwe was in the news last year,  a near lake was having Mermaid issues!  Yes, they believe in mermaids as evil beings that live in the lakes.  When something bad happens near a lake blame a Mermaid.  Very few can claim a trip to Goqwe - these baskets are rare.
These baskets are rapidly disappearing.  In 2013 I spent several months in South Africa and the curio sellers were all out of these baskets.  Only a few years ago they were plentiful.  Zimbabwe is/has been having huge economic problems.  They have abandoned their currency and gone to the US dollar - making everything much more expensive.
Often called a Binga Basket as they are mostly come from the Binga area in Northern Zimbabwe.  Properly called a Tonga Basket as they are made by the Tonga Tribe.  A basket this size takes 6-8 hours to make.
A vanishing art for many good reasons.  Classic African woman's art,  lovely and the pride is evident in every piece, yet "value" is low.
Each basket is a unique free form piece of art.  I liked them so much I brought back over 900.  Each personally selected from the Binga Craft Center and vendors along the road.
Great decorator item
, a row over a bed or a cluster on a wall - last picture is above my computer work area!   Incredible decorator art value.  Lots of great info on the web, also much higher prices and silly shipping.  Check my other baskets listed in my store or auction.   If buying several wait for me to change invoice,
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