This to my eye very beautiful old basket is Tutsi (a Rwandan ethnic group of the African Great Lakes region, also known as Watusi, Watutsi or Abatutsi, and particularly renowned for the fineness of their basketry, woven by women). Distinguishing Tutsi baskets are their very intricate weaving patterns, use of very fine woven material, and extraordinarily tight weave. Also common to these baskets, which were made to be used, and used and used, but also valued for their beauty, are repairs--here pale blue straw repairs to one section of the lip, and again to the perimeter of the base. I think those only serve to enhance it, as does the all over variation to the color of the surface, showing the accumulation of many years of handling. Striking and with a strong, rich presence.
7 1/4" d x 7 1/2" t. Good structural condition and very rich patina. Best to pick it up from the bottom so as not to put stress on it, but sound and pretty sturdy. A bit of loss to the wrap around the top rim beyond the section repaired in blue, but stable.
