This is a small lidded basket, handwoven from willow and caña.
Caña is a plant that grows naturally in the Mediterranean region. Belonging to the reed family, it has a form that resembles bamboo. Somewhere between bamboo and sasa(thin bamboo), it carries a texture that may also recall Nemagari bamboo found in Japan.
The maker is Pau, a fourth-generation basket maker from a family that has continued the craft for generations in Catalonia, in northeastern Spain along the Mediterranean coast.
The baskets he creates are deeply rooted in the rural culture of Catalonia, representing traditional basketry in its original form.
On this page, we introduce a miniature version of a basket locally known as a “rabbit basket.”
The sides of the basket are woven with bright, glossy caña. Willow is used for the vertical ribs, with caña inserted to support and hold them in place. The caña may show nodes, as well as natural spots and markings.In Europe, including the Catalonia region, rabbits have long been familiar as a source of food, and this type of basket was traditionally made in larger sizes, as well as in backpack-style forms.Viewed from the side, it has a slightly slim profile. A willow branch is attached to the lid, serving as a simple fastening.From above, you can see that the lid is also carefully and tightly woven. In some areas, there are hard willow “buds,” so please take care not to catch your fingers or clothing on them.The base of the basket is oval in shape, woven firmly using thick willow, including pieces that have been split in half, creating a sturdy construction.The handle is made using a thick willow rod as the core, with thinner willow branches wrapped around it. It is attached using the vertical ribs and rim bindings themselves, resulting in a firm and secure construction.The lid is opened by first removing the willow branch that serves as the fastening. It can be opened to about a 90-degree angle, but if too much strain is placed on the base of the lid, the willow may gradually wear down. For this reason, we recommend not opening it too widely each time, and handling it gently when opening and closing, so that it can be used for a longer time.When the lid is opened, you can see the oval-shaped base. This is a miniature-sized, very small basket. On the inside of the lid, small willow twigs may slightly protrude. Please take care not to catch on them during use.In some cases, small cracks may be visible in the caña on the inside of the basket. This is due to the nature of the material and the structure of the basket, and is not a defect. We hope you will appreciate it as a characteristic unique to natural materials.The linear arrangement of the caña creates a clean and orderly impression. On the inside, you may notice occasional joints where the caña has been joined. These are not breaks in the material, but occur naturally during the weaving process. Please understand this as part of the construction.It is small enough to sit neatly on your lap.The contrast between the bright tones of the caña and the color of the willow creates a striking impression, and is one of the distinctive features of baskets from the Catalonia region.
The combination of willow and caña has an exotic presence, yet the caña in particular carries a texture reminiscent of Japanese bamboo, giving it a sense of familiarity.
It can also be used indoors as a lidded storage basket. Even simply placed in a room, it can be enjoyed as part of the interior.
It is also well suited for storing sweets or tea. Part of the lid is woven in an open pattern, allowing you to glimpse what is inside without opening it.
Even as times, places, uses, and sizes change, the charm of the basket itself seems to remain unchanged.
We hope you will enjoy using it as a basket for the things around you in your daily life.
Basket Maker Pau of Spain — A Fourth-Generation Tradition from Catalonia —
Catalonia, in northeastern Spain, faces the Mediterranean Sea. In this region, centered around Barcelona and known for its own language and culture, Pau continues the craft of basket making.
As a fourth-generation basket maker, he works with familiar local materials such as willow and caña, a plant native to Catalonia, carrying on traditional basketry.
“The knowledge and techniques of basket making can only truly be learned within tradition. It is this foundation that allows new baskets to be created,” Pau says.
He began learning the craft in his father’s workshop at the age of eighteen. At the time, it was not something he had chosen for himself, but now he finds deep meaning in the work, takes pride in carrying it on, and considers it an essential part of his life.
Pau does not use molds when making baskets. Instead, he works directly with the materials, allowing each piece to take shape naturally. His baskets carry both the strength and the simplicity that have long been part of everyday life in Catalonia.
We hope you enjoy the many forms rooted in this region, from grape harvest baskets and wine bottle baskets to traditional rabbit baskets.
We introduce Pau’s basket making in more detail in this journal. We hope you will enjoy reading it.
This is a small lidded basket, handwoven from willow and caña.
Caña is a plant that grows naturally in the Mediterranean region. Belonging to the reed family, it has a form that resembles bamboo. Somewhere between bamboo and sasa(thin bamboo), it carries a texture that may also recall Nemagari bamboo found in Japan.
The maker is Pau, a fourth-generation basket maker from a family that has continued the craft for generations in Catalonia, in northeastern Spain along the Mediterranean coast.
The baskets he creates are deeply rooted in the rural culture of Catalonia, representing traditional basketry in its original form.
On this page, we introduce a miniature version of a basket locally known as a “rabbit basket.”
The sides of the basket are woven with bright, glossy caña. Willow is used for the vertical ribs, with caña inserted to support and hold them in place. The caña may show nodes, as well as natural spots and markings.In Europe, including the Catalonia region, rabbits have long been familiar as a source of food, and this type of basket was traditionally made in larger sizes, as well as in backpack-style forms.Viewed from the side, it has a slightly slim profile. A willow branch is attached to the lid, serving as a simple fastening.From above, you can see that the lid is also carefully and tightly woven. In some areas, there are hard willow “buds,” so please take care not to catch your fingers or clothing on them.The base of the basket is oval in shape, woven firmly using thick willow, including pieces that have been split in half, creating a sturdy construction.The handle is made using a thick willow rod as the core, with thinner willow branches wrapped around it. It is attached using the vertical ribs and rim bindings themselves, resulting in a firm and secure construction.The lid is opened by first removing the willow branch that serves as the fastening. It can be opened to about a 90-degree angle, but if too much strain is placed on the base of the lid, the willow may gradually wear down. For this reason, we recommend not opening it too widely each time, and handling it gently when opening and closing, so that it can be used for a longer time.When the lid is opened, you can see the oval-shaped base. This is a miniature-sized, very small basket. On the inside of the lid, small willow twigs may slightly protrude. Please take care not to catch on them during use.In some cases, small cracks may be visible in the caña on the inside of the basket. This is due to the nature of the material and the structure of the basket, and is not a defect. We hope you will appreciate it as a characteristic unique to natural materials.The linear arrangement of the caña creates a clean and orderly impression. On the inside, you may notice occasional joints where the caña has been joined. These are not breaks in the material, but occur naturally during the weaving process. Please understand this as part of the construction.It is small enough to sit neatly on your lap.The contrast between the bright tones of the caña and the color of the willow creates a striking impression, and is one of the distinctive features of baskets from the Catalonia region.
The combination of willow and caña has an exotic presence, yet the caña in particular carries a texture reminiscent of Japanese bamboo, giving it a sense of familiarity.
It can also be used indoors as a lidded storage basket. Even simply placed in a room, it can be enjoyed as part of the interior.
It is also well suited for storing sweets or tea. Part of the lid is woven in an open pattern, allowing you to glimpse what is inside without opening it.
Even as times, places, uses, and sizes change, the charm of the basket itself seems to remain unchanged.
We hope you will enjoy using it as a basket for the things around you in your daily life.
Basket Maker Pau of Spain — A Fourth-Generation Tradition from Catalonia —
Catalonia, in northeastern Spain, faces the Mediterranean Sea. In this region, centered around Barcelona and known for its own language and culture, Pau continues the craft of basket making.
As a fourth-generation basket maker, he works with familiar local materials such as willow and caña, a plant native to Catalonia, carrying on traditional basketry.
“The knowledge and techniques of basket making can only truly be learned within tradition. It is this foundation that allows new baskets to be created,” Pau says.
He began learning the craft in his father’s workshop at the age of eighteen. At the time, it was not something he had chosen for himself, but now he finds deep meaning in the work, takes pride in carrying it on, and considers it an essential part of his life.
Pau does not use molds when making baskets. Instead, he works directly with the materials, allowing each piece to take shape naturally. His baskets carry both the strength and the simplicity that have long been part of everyday life in Catalonia.
We hope you enjoy the many forms rooted in this region, from grape harvest baskets and wine bottle baskets to traditional rabbit baskets.
We introduce Pau’s basket making in more detail in this journal. We hope you will enjoy reading it.
This is a small lidded basket, handwoven from willow and caña.
Caña is a plant that grows naturally in the Mediterranean region. Belonging to the reed family, it has a form that resembles bamboo. Somewhere between bamboo and sasa(thin bamboo), it carries a texture that may also recall Nemagari bamboo found in Japan.
The maker is Pau, a fourth-generation basket maker from a family that has continued the craft for generations in Catalonia, in northeastern Spain along the Mediterranean coast.
The baskets he creates are deeply rooted in the rural culture of Catalonia, representing traditional basketry in its original form.
On this page, we introduce a miniature version of a basket locally known as a “rabbit basket.”
The sides of the basket are woven with bright, glossy caña. Willow is used for the vertical ribs, with caña inserted to support and hold them in place. The caña may show nodes, as well as natural spots and markings.In Europe, including the Catalonia region, rabbits have long been familiar as a source of food, and this type of basket was traditionally made in larger sizes, as well as in backpack-style forms.Viewed from the side, it has a slightly slim profile. A willow branch is attached to the lid, serving as a simple fastening.From above, you can see that the lid is also carefully and tightly woven. In some areas, there are hard willow “buds,” so please take care not to catch your fingers or clothing on them.The base of the basket is oval in shape, woven firmly using thick willow, including pieces that have been split in half, creating a sturdy construction.The handle is made using a thick willow rod as the core, with thinner willow branches wrapped around it. It is attached using the vertical ribs and rim bindings themselves, resulting in a firm and secure construction.The lid is opened by first removing the willow branch that serves as the fastening. It can be opened to about a 90-degree angle, but if too much strain is placed on the base of the lid, the willow may gradually wear down. For this reason, we recommend not opening it too widely each time, and handling it gently when opening and closing, so that it can be used for a longer time.When the lid is opened, you can see the oval-shaped base. This is a miniature-sized, very small basket. On the inside of the lid, small willow twigs may slightly protrude. Please take care not to catch on them during use.In some cases, small cracks may be visible in the caña on the inside of the basket. This is due to the nature of the material and the structure of the basket, and is not a defect. We hope you will appreciate it as a characteristic unique to natural materials.The linear arrangement of the caña creates a clean and orderly impression. On the inside, you may notice occasional joints where the caña has been joined. These are not breaks in the material, but occur naturally during the weaving process. Please understand this as part of the construction.It is small enough to sit neatly on your lap.The contrast between the bright tones of the caña and the color of the willow creates a striking impression, and is one of the distinctive features of baskets from the Catalonia region.
The combination of willow and caña has an exotic presence, yet the caña in particular carries a texture reminiscent of Japanese bamboo, giving it a sense of familiarity.
It can also be used indoors as a lidded storage basket. Even simply placed in a room, it can be enjoyed as part of the interior.
It is also well suited for storing sweets or tea. Part of the lid is woven in an open pattern, allowing you to glimpse what is inside without opening it.
Even as times, places, uses, and sizes change, the charm of the basket itself seems to remain unchanged.
We hope you will enjoy using it as a basket for the things around you in your daily life.
Basket Maker Pau of Spain — A Fourth-Generation Tradition from Catalonia —
Catalonia, in northeastern Spain, faces the Mediterranean Sea. In this region, centered around Barcelona and known for its own language and culture, Pau continues the craft of basket making.
As a fourth-generation basket maker, he works with familiar local materials such as willow and caña, a plant native to Catalonia, carrying on traditional basketry.
“The knowledge and techniques of basket making can only truly be learned within tradition. It is this foundation that allows new baskets to be created,” Pau says.
He began learning the craft in his father’s workshop at the age of eighteen. At the time, it was not something he had chosen for himself, but now he finds deep meaning in the work, takes pride in carrying it on, and considers it an essential part of his life.
Pau does not use molds when making baskets. Instead, he works directly with the materials, allowing each piece to take shape naturally. His baskets carry both the strength and the simplicity that have long been part of everyday life in Catalonia.
We hope you enjoy the many forms rooted in this region, from grape harvest baskets and wine bottle baskets to traditional rabbit baskets.
We introduce Pau’s basket making in more detail in this journal. We hope you will enjoy reading it.
