Indra Small Coil Storage Basket - Natural

The Indra is a cylindrical basket, 31cm tall and 31cm across, built from a single cord of hand spun jute coiled round and knotted onto the row below it. The coiling is what holds the shape, and the wall stands up on its own without a frame inside it. The rim is bound in a paler cord, and two tall loop handles of goat leather rise from it, each stitched down onto a leather patch that sits flat against the outside of the wall.

At 31cm tall and 31cm across this is the small of two, with a large at 41cm tall and 38cm across. The handles stand well clear of the rim, high enough to take a hand through and carry the basket while it is full. It takes rolled towels beside a bath, kindling by a hearth, or a potted plant left in its own container.

The cord is jute and cotton, hand spun and naturally dyed, and the handles and their patches are goat leather dyed with tree bark and vegetable extract. The baskets are made by a collective of craftswomen in southern India, set up by an NGO to give steady work to women who had depended on seasonal labour in drought prone areas. Because every cord is spun and coiled by hand the tone shifts from one row to the next, so no two baskets are quite alike. The Indra also runs in a charcoal.

How big is the small Indra?

31cm tall and 31cm across. The large is 41cm tall and 38cm across.

What are the handles made from?

Goat leather, dyed with tree bark and vegetable extract and stitched by hand onto a leather patch at the rim.

Who makes them?

A collective of craftswomen in southern India, set up by an NGO to provide steady work for women who had relied on seasonal labour in drought prone areas.

Can it be used outside?

No. Indoor use only, and the colour may fade in sunlight.

How do I look after it?

Use a soft bristle brush to take off any dust that builds up, and a mild soap and water on a soft cloth for marks. Keep harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners away from it.