Sweetgrass Baskets

Here in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, a basket, specifically a sweetgrass basket, is so much more than just a catch-all or a storage container. It is a testament to strength and perseverance, a symbol of not just surviving, but flourishing.

West African slaves brought to South Carolina in the 1600s carried with them the skill of basket making. Originally, the baskets were made from bulrush, a durable marsh grass, well suited to heavy, prolonged use. Over time, the descendants of the West African slaves substituted sweetgrass which provided a range of colors for intricate patterns as well as flexibility and a fresh, hay-like fragrance. Sweetgrass baskets changed from utilitarian to artistic. Today the variety of sweetgrass baskets available is limited only by the inspiration and vision of the Gullah artisans of Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Beaufort who are creating them.

The process of sweetgrass basket making does not use the classic basket weaving techniques such as plaiting and twisting. Rather, dried blades of sweetgrass are coiled in circles and bound with threads of palmetto frond. Other natural materials may be used to add decorative interest and functionality.

The end result is a tangible demonstration of one of the oldest, enduring traditions of West African slaves. We in the Lowcountry are richer for it.