Basket Weaving: Not Always About Perfection

Basket weaving is considered an art in many cultures. The baskets produced by the artists usually have a special meaning.

Weaving is an important part of South African culture and Mexican culture and Japanese culture. Japanese bamboo baskets are used in ikebana designs, which are sometimes based on the principle of informal balance.

Sometimes an imperfection is introduced into the basket during the process of weaving. This imperfection is placed there by the artist. The Pomo Indians, for example, believe that the imperfection acts as a spirit door, which lets good spirits into the basket and allows bad spirits to leave.