An expanded guide to the forms, materials and traditional uses in our
collection
Traditional Catalan basketry was practical by nature. The form, size, weave and material often
responded to what needed to be gathered, carried, stored or taken to market. This version
adds those uses while keeping the exact historical name of each of our pieces open for
confirmation with the maker or supplier.
1. The Palm-Fibre Cabàs / Market Basket
What we see: A broad, flexible woven body, finished in our example with textile lining and
leather handles.
Traditional world: This family of light carrying baskets belongs naturally to everyday
Mediterranean life and market-going.
Uses: Shopping and carrying fruit, vegetables, bread and other market goods. Today it also
works beautifully for textiles, beach things, picnics or as an everyday summer bag.
2. The Small Compartment Basket
What we see: A sturdy rectangular basket with one central handle and internal divisions.
Why the divisions matter: Compartments suggest a specialised carrying purpose: keeping
separate objects upright, protected and organised. Traditional Catalan basketry included many
purpose-made forms, including divided baskets for bottles.
Uses: Most plausibly for separated or upright objects; today it can hold bottles, jars or small
pantry items. We should confirm the original local use before describing this exact piece
historically.
3. The Rustic Oval Cistell — Vímet amb Pell / Sense Pelar
What we see: The darker, rougher oval basket with the large central handle. The rods keep
their bark, irregular colour and natural branch texture.
Why it feels closer to the tree: With the bark left on, the willow keeps more of its original
surface and character.
Traditional uses: Strong, practical cistells of this general family were used for countryside and
agricultural tasks, carrying produce and taking goods to market. The familiar handled Catalan
cistell is also strongly associated today with bolets — mushroom gathering — although the
same traditional form historically had many uses.
Bolets: Of the baskets in our photographs, the open oval handled cistells are the ones that
best fit the traditional Catalan cistell de bolets family. Their open structure and carrying handle
make them suitable for gathering mushrooms without crushing them in a closed bag.4. The Lighter / Smoother Oval Cistell
What we see: A similar oval handled form, but lighter, smoother and more regular in touch and
appearance.
Material note: This smoother appearance can come from prepared willow — including peeled
willow — and/or finer prepared elements. We should confirm the exact preparation of your
piece with the maker before publishing the technical name.
Uses: The same broad cistell form could serve market and domestic life: fruit, vegetables,
eggs, food or small household goods. Finer basketry was also suitable for lighter domestic
carrying.
5. Which One for Castanyes?
Castanyes (chestnuts): A strong, open handled cistell is appropriate for gathering chestnuts,
just as similar hand baskets are used for other woodland produce. In your collection, the last
oval handled baskets are the closest match for this use.
For the final published blog, however, I would describe this as a traditional use of this kind of
carrying basket rather than name one of your pieces a specific cistell de castanyes until we
confirm that name and provenance with the artisan.
6. A Basket for Each Job
Catalan basketry was never only decorative. Historical collections document specialised
baskets for market produce, potatoes, planting, mushrooms, laundry, eggs and poultry, among
many other agricultural, domestic and forest uses.
For shopping: cabàs and market-carrying forms.
For fruit and vegetables: handled cistells, coves and other produce baskets depending on
size and locality.
For bolets: the open handled cistell associated today with mushroom gathering.
For castanyes: sturdy open woodland-gathering cistells.
For textiles/laundry: larger panera or bugadera-type forms existed specifically for clothing
and laundry.
For agricultural work: larger coves and specialised baskets were made for potatoes, planting,
animals and market transport.
The important thing is that the shape was not accidental. A basket was designed
around life: what had to be picked, carried, protected, sold or brought home.
