Chilote basketry

Chilota basketryThe Isla Grande de Chiloé is the largest of the islands that make up the Chiloé archipelago, a group of islands located in the Los Lagos Region, in southern Chile. It is crossed from north to south by the Cordillera de la Costa mountain range. The area is characterized by its maritime activity, its strong religiosity, its fiber, wool and wood crafts, and above all its cultural traditions.

The archipelago is covered by profuse vegetation, with Valdivian forests and a dozen wetlands, which allows the growth of a great variety of vegetable fibers that have been used for years in the manufacture of basketry objects.

The baskets were and still are the containers used to provide what nature provides for subsistence. The craft of basket weaving is a tradition that is generally passed down through the mother’s side. This craft is mostly carried out by women, from the collection and preparation of the materials to the weaving and the final sale. In the making of Chiloé basketry, materials from the local flora are used, such as «junquillo» (Juncussp.), «ñapo» (Juncus sp.), «manila» (Phormium tenax), «ñocha» (Cyperus sp.), «quilineja» (Luziariga basans) and various species of creepers known as «boqui» (Boquila trifoliolata, Campsidium valdivianum, Cissus striata).

The weaving technique used is simple pairing, which is practiced throughout the archipelago, and «aduja» weaving, which is used on Llingua Island and nearby areas. The use of external tools is rare, demonstrating the antiquity of this craft.

In relation to the fibers, the collection of each one has its own particularity, as well as the preparation and use in a certain type of weaving. All of this is identified and applied by the basket weavers.

In the past, there was a greater diversity of objects to weave. Today only some of them maintain their original function, mainly those for carrying and storing, and some such as the «chaiwe» and the press basket for making «chicha». These are generally used in more remote parts of the island, by older islanders who maintain their traditions and in traditional festivals.

Chilota basketryThe Isla Grande de Chiloé is the largest of the islands that make up the Chiloé archipelago, a group of islands located in the Los Lagos Region, in southern Chile. It is crossed from north to south by the Cordillera de la Costa mountain range. The area is characterized by its maritime activity, its strong religiosity, its fiber, wool and wood crafts, and above all its cultural traditions.

The archipelago is covered by profuse vegetation, with Valdivian forests and a dozen wetlands, which allows the growth of a great variety of vegetable fibers that have been used for years in the manufacture of basketry objects.

The baskets were and still are the containers used to provide what nature provides for subsistence. The craft of basket weaving is a tradition that is generally passed down through the mother’s side. This craft is mostly carried out by women, from the collection and preparation of the materials to the weaving and the final sale. In the making of Chiloé basketry, materials from the local flora are used, such as «junquillo» (Juncussp.), «ñapo» (Juncus sp.), «manila» (Phormium tenax), «ñocha» (Cyperus sp.), «quilineja» (Luziariga basans) and various species of creepers known as «boqui» (Boquila trifoliolata, Campsidium valdivianum, Cissus striata).

The weaving technique used is simple pairing, which is practiced throughout the archipelago, and «aduja» weaving, which is used on Llingua Island and nearby areas. The use of external tools is rare, demonstrating the antiquity of this craft.

In relation to the fibers, the collection of each one has its own particularity, as well as the preparation and use in a certain type of weaving. All of this is identified and applied by the basket weavers.

In the past, there was a greater diversity of objects to weave. Today only some of them maintain their original function, mainly those for carrying and storing, and some such as the «chaiwe» and the press basket for making «chicha». These are generally used in more remote parts of the island, by older islanders who maintain their traditions and in traditional festivals.

Chilota basketryThe Isla Grande de Chiloé is the largest of the islands that make up the Chiloé archipelago, a group of islands located in the Los Lagos Region, in southern Chile. It is crossed from north to south by the Cordillera de la Costa mountain range. The area is characterized by its maritime activity, its strong religiosity, its fiber, wool and wood crafts, and above all its cultural traditions.

The archipelago is covered by profuse vegetation, with Valdivian forests and a dozen wetlands, which allows the growth of a great variety of vegetable fibers that have been used for years in the manufacture of basketry objects.

The baskets were and still are the containers used to provide what nature provides for subsistence. The craft of basket weaving is a tradition that is generally passed down through the mother’s side. This craft is mostly carried out by women, from the collection and preparation of the materials to the weaving and the final sale. In the making of Chiloé basketry, materials from the local flora are used, such as «junquillo» (Juncussp.), «ñapo» (Juncus sp.), «manila» (Phormium tenax), «ñocha» (Cyperus sp.), «quilineja» (Luziariga basans) and various species of creepers known as «boqui» (Boquila trifoliolata, Campsidium valdivianum, Cissus striata).

The weaving technique used is simple pairing, which is practiced throughout the archipelago, and «aduja» weaving, which is used on Llingua Island and nearby areas. The use of external tools is rare, demonstrating the antiquity of this craft.

In relation to the fibers, the collection of each one has its own particularity, as well as the preparation and use in a certain type of weaving. All of this is identified and applied by the basket weavers.

In the past, there was a greater diversity of objects to weave. Today only some of them maintain their original function, mainly those for carrying and storing, and some such as the «chaiwe» and the press basket for making «chicha». These are generally used in more remote parts of the island, by older islanders who maintain their traditions and in traditional festivals.

Chilota basketryThe Isla Grande de Chiloé is the largest of the islands that make up the Chiloé archipelago, a group of islands located in the Los Lagos Region, in southern Chile. It is crossed from north to south by the Cordillera de la Costa mountain range. The area is characterized by its maritime activity, its strong religiosity, its fiber, wool and wood crafts, and above all its cultural traditions.

The archipelago is covered by profuse vegetation, with Valdivian forests and a dozen wetlands, which allows the growth of a great variety of vegetable fibers that have been used for years in the manufacture of basketry objects.

The baskets were and still are the containers used to provide what nature provides for subsistence. The craft of basket weaving is a tradition that is generally passed down through the mother’s side. This craft is mostly carried out by women, from the collection and preparation of the materials to the weaving and the final sale. In the making of Chiloé basketry, materials from the local flora are used, such as «junquillo» (Juncussp.), «ñapo» (Juncus sp.), «manila» (Phormium tenax), «ñocha» (Cyperus sp.), «quilineja» (Luziariga basans) and various species of creepers known as «boqui» (Boquila trifoliolata, Campsidium valdivianum, Cissus striata).

The weaving technique used is simple pairing, which is practiced throughout the archipelago, and «aduja» weaving, which is used on Llingua Island and nearby areas. The use of external tools is rare, demonstrating the antiquity of this craft.

In relation to the fibers, the collection of each one has its own particularity, as well as the preparation and use in a certain type of weaving. All of this is identified and applied by the basket weavers.

In the past, there was a greater diversity of objects to weave. Today only some of them maintain their original function, mainly those for carrying and storing, and some such as the «chaiwe» and the press basket for making «chicha». These are generally used in more remote parts of the island, by older islanders who maintain their traditions and in traditional festivals.

Chilota basketryThe Isla Grande de Chiloé is the largest of the islands that make up the Chiloé archipelago, a group of islands located in the Los Lagos Region, in southern Chile. It is crossed from north to south by the Cordillera de la Costa mountain range. The area is characterized by its maritime activity, its strong religiosity, its fiber, wool and wood crafts, and above all its cultural traditions.

The archipelago is covered by profuse vegetation, with Valdivian forests and a dozen wetlands, which allows the growth of a great variety of vegetable fibers that have been used for years in the manufacture of basketry objects.

The baskets were and still are the containers used to provide what nature provides for subsistence. The craft of basket weaving is a tradition that is generally passed down through the mother’s side. This craft is mostly carried out by women, from the collection and preparation of the materials to the weaving and the final sale. In the making of Chiloé basketry, materials from the local flora are used, such as «junquillo» (Juncussp.), «ñapo» (Juncus sp.), «manila» (Phormium tenax), «ñocha» (Cyperus sp.), «quilineja» (Luziariga basans) and various species of creepers known as «boqui» (Boquila trifoliolata, Campsidium valdivianum, Cissus striata).

The weaving technique used is simple pairing, which is practiced throughout the archipelago, and «aduja» weaving, which is used on Llingua Island and nearby areas. The use of external tools is rare, demonstrating the antiquity of this craft.

In relation to the fibers, the collection of each one has its own particularity, as well as the preparation and use in a certain type of weaving. All of this is identified and applied by the basket weavers.

In the past, there was a greater diversity of objects to weave. Today only some of them maintain their original function, mainly those for carrying and storing, and some such as the «chaiwe» and the press basket for making «chicha». These are generally used in more remote parts of the island, by older islanders who maintain their traditions and in traditional festivals.

Chilota basketry

The Isla Grande de Chiloé is the largest of the islands that make up the Chiloé archipelago, a group of islands located in the Los Lagos Region, in southern Chile. It is crossed from north to south by the Cordillera de la Costa mountain range. The area is characterised by its maritime activity, its strong religiosity, its fibre, wool and wood crafts, and above all its cultural traditions.

The archipelago is covered by profuse vegetation, with Valdivian forests and a dozen wetlands, which allows the growth of a great variety of vegetable fibres that have been used for years in the manufacture of basketry objects.

The baskets were and still are the containers used to provide what nature provides for subsistence. The craft of basket weaving is a tradition that is generally passed down through the mother’s side. This craft is mostly carried out by women, from the collection and preparation of the materials to the weaving and the final sale. In the making of Chiloé basketry, materials from the local flora are used, such as «junquillo» (Juncussp.), «ñapo» (Juncus sp.), «manila» (Phormium tenax), «ñocha» (Cyperus sp.), «quilineja» (Luziariga radicans) and various species of creepers known as «boqui» (Boquila trifoliolata, Campsidium valdivianum, Cissus striata).

The weaving technique used is simple pairing, which is practised throughout the archipelago, and «aduja» weaving, which is used on Llingua Island and nearby areas. The use of external tools is rare, demonstrating the antiquity of this craft.

In relation to the fibres, the collection of each one has its own particularity, as well as the preparation and use in a certain type of weaving. All of this is identified and applied by the basket weavers.

In the past, there was a greater diversity of objects to weave. Today only some of them maintain their original function, mainly those for carrying and storing, and some such as the «chaiwe» and the press basket for making «chicha». These are generally used in more remote parts of the island, by older islanders who maintain their traditions and in traditional festivals.