Tonga Basket Natural (47-05) Terrier this heart-shaped "ekuk" mask hung

this heart-shaped "ekuk" mask hung in the home and was only brought out to "warm" the village atmosphere and call on beneficial forces during Bwete society initiation ceremonies

The patterns are elaborate geometries of squares and rectangles

metal and leather

Size:  65cm H x 15cm W

Each one is slightly different due to the nature of them being hand made

Tonga Basket Natural (47-05) Terrier this heart-shaped "ekuk" mask hungA handwoven natural Tonga basket in Ilala palm These solid edged baskets are the pinnacle of the Tonga (Bathonga) basket maker's art in Zimbabwe and Southern Zambia. Woven from Ilala palm leaf, each starts as a square and is coiled into an almost perfect circle. The fine edging is known as snake's belly for its serpent scale pattern, and the soft natural tones come from dyes made with tree bark. Traditionally used to winnow grain, today they make