Zulu tribes people have a long tradition of basket weaving. But with traditional materials -- hand-dyed grasses -- now endangered, the weavers have substituted recycled telephone wire.

During apartheid, Zulu men often worked as watchmen at construction sites. To pass the time, they wove imbenge -- lids for clay beer pots -- from scrap materials at the site. This folk craft has been transformed into a cottage industry in remote villages. Today salvaged PVC wire is shipped in from the U.S. because it is now difficult to find in South Africa.

The Zulu people believe that imbenge lend pride, dignity and warmth to a home. Sets of imbenge and beer pots are traditionally given by a bride to her in-laws during her marriage ceremony.

Visit our catalog for imbenge basket ordering information.

Hand made by Zulu weavers from recycled telephone wires, each basket is a unique work of art. Standing alone, they are a visual delight while a grouping of several creates a dramatic accent on a table or wall. Their uniqueness and intricacy is both a boon and a bane: A boon because of their detail and stunning abstract designs are unmatched by any other collection we've ever carried in our gallery. The black and white ones, which are hard to find, will enhance your dining room table, wall or display case, matching perfectly with any decor.

The bane of their uniqueness and meticulous detail is that they are difficult to keep in stock. It's understandable that these wonderful bowls are among our most popular pieces. Each is an individual piece of art, not a factory- or assembly-line product, and it shows. These incredibly talented Zulu artisans work at an artist's pace, not by a production schedule, and shipments can be few and far between. While we try to keep both a strong supply of color and black and white bowls in stock, we never know what we might have at any given time. If we are out of stock on one that you want, be sure to sign up so that you'll know when we get a new shipment.

Now that we think about it, perhaps bane is too strong of a word: Their rarity only makes them more beautiful.

Clean your imbenge basket by washing it in cool, soapy water. Keep out of dishwashers and away from sun and heat.

The Zulu people believe that imbenge lend dignity to a home. Sets of imbenge and beer pots are traditionally given by a bride to her in-laws during her marriage ceremony.