Small wire Zulu bowl

Description

Fine, intricate and individual designed plates made using plastic telephone coated wire.

Made by the Zulu people in the region in the rural region in the north of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa and part of a project. It’s a region with lots of unemployed and very poor too. so the project since it inception in 2002, has helped and trained more than 600 men and women.

They have used their skills and designs used to craft natural fibre baskets to make a more modern and brightly coloured version. The origins of this weaving is in South African mines where Zulu workers started to plait telephone wire scraps round their traditional sticks to banish boredom on night shifts.

Originally they used recycled telephone wire but now lead free materials are used. Families support themselves by weaving theses baskets. There are more than 500 families who make a fair living wage, it gives them the opportunity to send their children to school and also exercise their creativity. The wire baskets are functional, strong and durable, can be used to hold food. Can be cleaned with warm soapy water and dried.