THATCH BASKETS
Decorative Thatch Basket
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"When I was fifteen years of age I started plaiting. I am happy to say that my first pair of shoes I wore in life, I bought them off of making baskets." Marlena Anglin.
We made thatch baskets of all sizes - ground baskets, fishing baskets and hand baskets. Detail in the construction of hand baskets was paricularly important. Hand baskets traditionally formed part of your Church accessories. It contained your bible, and was often commented on.
Plaiting baskets, stripping strings, twisting strands and laying rope all traditionally were regarded as woman's work which sustained many Caymanian families in past times. Traditional artist, Nell Smith, of North Side once recounted her memories of "backing" (gathering or carrying) tops, the raw material from which rope and baskets were made. "Sometimes, quite a few of us would go in the land and cut tops, we would walk it and carry them things ("tops") on your back long with it." This was just one aspect of life for many Caymanian women. Modernisation has all but erased this tradition. Few can depend upon their knowledge and skills to provide any form of income as other skills have taken precedence. Lack of demand, little interest in learning the craft, and a larger than normal generation gap are often quoted as reasons for this change.
Before the 1960s, Caymanian baskets, like rope, made from the Silver Thatch Palm, Cocothrinax proctorii , and treasured for their strength, durability and usefulness. These baskets were the best, and often only means of transporting tops for the rope-making industry, bartered supplies from local merchants and, the crops harvested from provision grounds. Visitors often purchased baskets as mementos of their visit. Today, the thatch tree is a National Symbol, and traditional baskets are revered for their simple beauty and ingenuity, revealed in their variety of plaiting styles.
PLAITING STYLES
Most plaiting styles utilize 4, 7, 9, 11 or 15 "strings", blades of the leaves of the Silver Thatch Palm. The width of a "string" depended upon the type of basket being made. Eleven strings was most commonly used in the production of ground baskets because of the width of the "round," A "round" or "bout" is the number of circular bands of plaiting that creates a basket.
Common decorative plaiting styles are notch, open work and hedgehog.
NOTCH PLAITING an angular lace-like form of either four or
six strings. It is used as a decorative piece to finish a
basket.
OPEN WORK an intricate pattern of two primary parallel strings
and two overlapping strings. It is favoured as a another decorative
style.
HEDGEHOG a masterful and intricate example of the skilled
craft. It consists of both scalloped and notched edges.
Baskets were utilitarian objects so, little time was spent decorating them. On occasssion natural dyes of fustic or red mangrove, were used to add a hint of colour to the strings of a special basket.. Today, a handful of basket makers continue the practice. Fewer and fewer traditional baskets can be found on the market.
Amid rising concerns for us all to employ more environmentally sensitive practices, many grocery stores offer recycled bags for small items to their customers. Why not purchase a thatch basket instead. By doing so will do your part reduce plastics in our landfill and preserve a Caymanian tradition. Thatch baskets are all natural and bio-degradeable. Let us all do our part, make one your smarter greener choice.
Debra Barnes-Tábora
If the tradition of plaiting thatch baskets is to survive, the raw materials must be saved from destruction, and the techniques and skills documented and transmitted to new generations. The Cayman Islands National Museum and the Cayman Islands Traditional Arts Council continue to document these skills for posterity. Anyone interested in learning to plait is encouraged to call 949-8368 or email DebraTabora@museum.ky at the National Museum or email CITACCAYMAN@YAHOO.com.
