Artisan Hand weaving
THE RFB JOURNAL

Field Notes

On craft, provenance, and living with handwoven art.

Every piece in the shop is the result of months of skilled work in a specific place — by a named artisan, using techniques passed across generations. This journal is where that context lives. Notes from visits to artisan communities, practical guidance on displaying and caring for handwoven art, and the occasional deep dive on what makes one tradition different from another. Read slowly. These objects were made that way.

Journal

Emberá Masks: What They Are, What They Mean
An introduction to Emberá woven masks — what they mean in Emberá culture and how the tradition reaches collectors today.
What Are Ticuna Ceremonial Dolls? The Pelazón Tradition of the Colombian Amazon
A guide to Ticuna ceremonial dolls and the Pelazón tradition — the rite of passage they honor in the Colombian Amazon.
What Are Ghana Elephant Grass Baskets? The Bolgatanga Tradition Explained
How Bolgatanga weavers in Ghana's Upper East Region turn elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) into sculptural baskets that travel the world.
What Are Werregue Baskets? The Chocó Weaving Tradition Explained
An introduction to Werregue baskets and plates — the Wounaan Chocó tradition, the werregue palm, and the dyes that give it depth.
Who Are the Wounaan? Panama's Most Collectible Baskets Explained
Who the Wounaan are: history, language, the villages where their basketry is made, and the artists shaping the tradition today.
What Is an Agaseke Basket? The History and Meaning Behind Rwanda's Peace Basket
The Agaseke — Rwanda's basket of peace — has roots that go back generations and a presence on the national seal. Here's what you need to know.
Who Are the Emberá? Rivers, Genip Dye, and Silver Coins
An introduction to the Emberá people of Panama's Darién — the rivers their villages line, the genip dye they wear on their skin, and the silver coins they thread into family necklaces.