Auburn Iringa basket handwoven from milulu grass dyed a warm terracotta
Close-up of the terracotta weave and plaited rim on Auburn Iringa baskets.
Auburn Iringa basket, side view showing the undyed plaited rim against the rust body
Auburn Iringa basket photographed from above, coiled base visible
Auburn Iringa basket, close detail of the terracotta weave
Auburn Iringa basket handwoven from milulu grass dyed a warm terracotta
Close-up of the terracotta weave and plaited rim on Auburn Iringa baskets.
Auburn Iringa basket, side view showing the undyed plaited rim against the rust body
Auburn Iringa basket photographed from above, coiled base visible
Auburn Iringa basket, close detail of the terracotta weave

Auburn Iringa Basket - Handwoven Milulu Grass

$90.00
/
Free shipping on orders over $70.
Size
ABOUT THIS PRODUCT

A handwoven basket from the Iringa region of southern Tanzania, worked in milulu grass dyed a warm terracotta.

The auburn is woven densely against pale natural grass rather than laid on in stripes, so the surface reads as one warm rust from across the room and breaks into flecks of cream and clay up close. The plaited rim is left undyed, drawing a pale line around the top edge.

Sized from a shelf to the floor. Holds a potted plant, rolled towels, or the things that otherwise pile up in a corner.

The three sizes nest inside one another, and they nest across colorways as well, so an Auburn Medium drops inside a Natural or Auburn Stripe Large. A set takes up the footprint of the largest basket when you are not using all of them. Against an undyed grass basket the terracotta reads warmer than it does alone.

  • Medium - 10-11" diameter x 10-11" high
  • Large - 12-13" diameter x 12-13" high
  • X-Large - 14-15" diameter x 14-15" high

Each size is sold individually. The price shown is for one basket in the size you choose.

Woven and dyed by hand, so color depth and dimensions vary from piece to piece. Made in Tanzania.

Pairs well with

Iringa sits in the southern highlands of Tanzania, where milulu grass grows through the wetlands.

The grass is cut, dried, dyed, and then worked by hand from the base upward. Because the color goes into the fiber before the basket is built rather than onto the surface afterward, it sits inside the weave instead of on top of it, and pale natural grass stays visible through the terracotta.

The rim braid is left undyed, which is a weaver's choice rather than a design brief.

  • Milulu grass, cut, dried, and dyed, then handwoven
  • Terracotta-dyed grass throughout the body
  • Plaited rim left undyed
  • No liner, lacquer, or coating

Measured across the widest point of the body and from the base to the rim.

  • Medium: 10-11" diameter x 10-11" high
  • Large: 12-13" diameter x 12-13" high
  • X-Large: 14-15" diameter x 14-15" high

Approximate weight: Medium 1.2 lb, Large 2 lb, X-Large 2.5 lb. Handwoven, so dimensions vary within roughly an inch. All three sizes nest inside one another, and they nest across colorways as well.

  • Dust with a dry cloth or a soft brush.
  • Spot clean with a barely damp cloth, then let it air dry completely.
  • Do not soak, submerge, or machine wash. Natural fiber loses its shape when saturated.
  • Keep out of prolonged direct sun, which dries and fades the fiber over time.
  • If you plant in it, use a waterproof liner or drop a nursery pot inside.

Is it solid auburn?

From a few feet away, yes. Up close you will see pale natural grass woven through the terracotta, and the rim braid is undyed. That mix is what keeps it from reading as a painted object.

Does the color vary between baskets?

Yes. Dye takes differently depending on the grass, so depth ranges from brick to a lighter clay.

Do the sizes nest?

Yes. Medium fits inside Large, and Large fits inside X-Large. They also nest across colorways, so an Auburn Medium sits inside a Natural or Auburn Stripe Large. You can build a set in one color or mix them.

Can I put a plant in it?

Yes, with a liner or a nursery pot inside. Standing water will stain the fiber and can bleed the dye.

Where is it made?

Tanzania, in the Iringa region.

BUSH & BRIAR

Nature's Way is how I decide what earns a place in the shop. Six things, and every one of them is checkable on the product page above.

  1. Natural materials, named - I state the actual material, like milulu grass, baby alpaca or Ethiopian cotton, rather than a vague adjective.
  2. Made by hand - woven or carved by hand, not pressed, molded or machine-made.
  3. A named place - the region it was made in, taken from the maker's own labelling.
  4. From me or from the maker - some pieces I stock and pack myself in California; others ship directly from the maker who made them. Either way, I chose every piece, and I'm your point of contact for questions, orders and returns.
  5. Made in small batches - handmade, never mass-produced, so stock can run low.
  6. No claim I cannot show you - if I cannot verify it, it does not go on the page.

Pieces I stock myself ship from my workspace in Southern California, usually within 1–2 business days.

Other pieces ship directly from the maker who made them, which can take longer. If you need something by a certain date, email me at support@bushandbriar.com before you order and I'll tell you what to expect.

If your order includes pieces from more than one place, they may arrive in separate packages, each with its own tracking.

Shipping is free on orders over $70. Orders under $70 ship for a flat $6.

I currently ship within the continental United States.

If something is not right, email support@bushandbriar.com within 30 days of delivery. Items should be unused and in original condition.

If your order arrives damaged, send photos within 14 days and I will replace or refund it at no cost to you.

See full details here: Refund Policy

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