Vintage Hand Woven Mixed Metal Basket, Braided Wire Handles, Artisan Metalwork B

A substantial vintage basket created using traditional basket-weaving techniques translated into metal, this piece combines several different styles of weaving, twisting, braiding, wrapping and binding to create an extraordinarily tactile piece of functional metalwork.  The open sides are woven from individual strands of metal.  Each handle is formed from numerous strands of metal intricately braided together like rope, then gathered into wide metal collars where the handles meet the basket. They are beautifully made and give the piece a distinctly sculptural quality.  An interesting detail discovered while examining the basket is that it appears to be made from more than one type of metal. A magnet strongly attracts to the: braided handles and upper rim but does not attract to the woven metal forming the sides or bottom of the basket.  This suggests deliberate mixed-metal construction, with a ferrous/steel framework providing strength while a non-ferrous metal—possibly aluminum was used for the woven basket body.  13”× 9”× 5”Weight: Approximately 3 lbs  Similar hand-worked metal basketry was produced during the mid-to-late 20th century. Very good vintage condition with age-appropriate surface wear, patina, oxidation and variations to the metal.  Because this is hand-worked construction, the weaving is intentionally irregular rather than mechanically uniform. Individual wires, loops and bindings vary slightly throughout the piece and are part of its handcrafted character.