Rectangular buying Rattan picnic basket with covers and lining shopping bag kitchen storage food storage GrasShanghai/Christmas gifts

These large picnic baskets are handwoven with rattan, with strong covers that open from both side.

size: L40CM, W30CM and H40CM

Since every product is hand-made upon order, please allow 2-7 business days for us to make the product after the payment and get it ready for shipment. We have a variety of rugs, cushions, tables, chairs and more weaved and plaited from cattails, cornhusk and reeds. Discover other products here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrasShanghai.

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Discover the traditional process behind these ancient techniques…

The technique of weaving and plaiting using cattails as raw material is not known to everyone. In fact, a little county of Hubin in northern China is the only place in the country where you can still discover this craft.

1.Collection of raw materials
In summer, men from the countryside will go together to collect the cattails that grow in shallow waters of the lakes, rivers and wetlands, where the environment has been preserved in its pristine state.

2.Preparation of materials
When transported from the wild to the villages, women of the family buying will then take the fresh grass and lay them out in front of the houses or on the country road to dry them out by natural sunlight. The dried plants will be carefully filtered according to quality, and then stored in the farmers' houses.

3.Weaving and plaiting
Every day, women will take out some small portion of the plant and soak it in clean water so that it is soft enough for weaving. For women in Hubin, it is their way of living: rise early to make breakfast for the family, then those in the neighborhood will gather in a chosen woman's house or in the Hutong (a traditional Chinese alleyway) to work together, weaving all kinds of crafts from cattails. While working, they bond – talking, laughing and gossiping. This tradition is passed from mothers to daughters, making the women of Hubin both financially independent and socially bonded.