Basketry Grass

Mountain grass ”Haravola” is made to hats and baskets.

"Haravola" is an extraordinary tough type of grass. It is so tough that it is not suitable as feeding for the cattle — but rather as an material for making sturdy crafts for everyday use, e.g. baskets. Harvesting the grass is done by hand. The grass is a wildgrowing perennial that grows back. The harvested grass is sun-dried and then braided into baskets and hats. The braiding can be done with different techniques and also in combination with other natural fibres, such as raffia palm leaves. The artisans’ name for the durable, silvery-green grass "Haravola" is a combination of "de hara" = material that can be used in a very thin layer and "vola" = silver. The botanical name of the grass is Lasiorhachis viguieri or Loudetia simplex subsp. Stipoides. The photos below show how the grass Haravola grows, is harvested, dried and with different braiding techniques crafted to baskets and hats in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

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Grass handcraft

1. The material Haravola is a very tough mountain grass. It is too tough to be grazed by cattle – instead it is suitable as material for sturdy basketry.

Grass handcraft

2. The grass is wild growing –without demand for water, artificial fertilizers, pesticides, agricultural land. Harvesting is done manually.

Grass handcraft

3. The grass is dried in the sun, then plaited.

Grass handcraft

4. Shown here is plaiting of Haravola without including other natural fibres.

Grass handcrafted hat and basket

5. The hat shows the result of plaiting Haravola without other naturalfibres included. The basket shows the result of inserting a naturewhite raffia palm leaf around the edge of each bundle of grass while plaiting.

Artisan and grass handcrafted basket

6. Mme Hanitra is one of the women in the village Behenjy who makes the baskets. Here she is with a new model (and son).

Basket handcrafted of grass

7. The picnic basket – that where designed has handles of sisal braids of local wild growing sisal. The sisal braids run under the bottom of the basket in order to give maximum load-bearing capacity. Drawstring closure of cotton fabric to protect what is inside. Click below to find the picnic basket in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

Information and ordering

Hat handcrafted of grass

8. Hat plaited of Haravola mountain grass.

Grass handcraft

9. “Rariboka” is a basketry technique where the Haravola grass is combined with sundried raffia palm leaves. Here one of the women in the village who master this technique.

Grass handcraft

10. Rariboka-plaiting close-up. The combination of naturegreen Haravola grass and the naturewhite raffiapalmleaves gives a very beautiful structure to the surface of the basket. Also colour, pattern – and wearing qualities.

Grass handcrafted basket

11. Basket rariboka. La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE has continuously supported and cooperated with the village artisans since 1997. Many new models have been developed during the years.

Grass handcraft - basket

13. Rariboka basket

Grass handcrafted basket

13. Functional giftbasket to carry or put on the table.

Gras handcraft

14. Large, functional basket braided of Haravola grass. The braiding technique used implies that raffia palm leaves are laid over the edge of each bundle of grass straw during braiding. The long handles are braided of sisal. Click on the link below for more information about this basket.

Information and ordering

Arts & Crafts from Madagascar with respect for environment, people and traditions. facebook
Fair Trade hats, bags, gifts and interior. Genuine crafts with focus on ecology. Wholesale

La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE

+46 (0) 706017777
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311 65 Vessigebro
SVERIGE
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Basketry Grass

Our products

1. The material Haravola is a very tough mountain grass. It is too tough to be grazed by cattle – instead it is suitable as material for sturdy basketry.

2. The grass is wild growing –without demand for water, artificial fertilizers, pesticides, agricultural land. Harvesting is done manually.

3. The grass is dried in the sun, then plaited.

4. Shown here is plaiting of Haravola without including other natural fibres.

5. The hat shows the result of plaiting Haravola without other naturalfibres included. The basket shows the result of inserting a naturewhite raffia palm leaf around the edge of each bundle of grass while plaiting.

6. Mme Hanitra is one of the women in the village Behenjy who makes the baskets. Here she is with a new model (and son).

8. Hat plaited of Haravola mountain grass.

9. “Rariboka” is a basketry technique where the Haravola grass is combined with sundried raffia palm leaves. Here one of the women in the village who master this technique.

10. Rariboka-plaiting close-up. The combination of naturegreen Haravola grass and the naturewhite raffiapalmleaves gives a very beautiful structure to the surface of the basket. Also colour, pattern – and wearing qualities.

11. Basket rariboka. La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE has continuously supported and cooperated with the village artisans since 1997. Many new models have been developed during the years.

13. Rariboka basket

13. Functional giftbasket to carry or put on the table.

14. Large, functional basket braided of Haravola grass. The braiding technique used implies that raffia palm leaves are laid over the edge of each bundle of grass straw during braiding. The long handles are braided of sisal. Click on the link below for more information about this basket.

Arts & Crafts from Madagascar with respect for environment, people and traditions. facebook Fair Trade hats, bags, gifts and interior. Genuine crafts with focus on ecology. Wholesale

La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE

Arts & Crafts from Madagascar with respect for environment, people and traditions. facebook
Fair Trade hats, bags, gifts and interior. Genuine crafts with focus on ecology. Wholesale