A note from Jen — I knew baskets could be tall. Then I saw a Rwandan basket, woven in stages, straight as a column, pattern wrapping every inch. The bottle pairs are made to live together, two shapes answering each other. Woven by more than 5,000 women of the Gahaya Links cooperatives, whose work rebuilds villages.
Ĥu hajim — thank you, from the Wounaan · ❤️ Jen at RFB Woven Art
Rwandan baskets, known as Agaseke, are among the most architecturally distinctive handwoven objects made anywhere. RFB carries them in two scales: 16-inch woven vessels, often sold in pairs, and tall forms of 54 to 65 inches that function as floor sculpture rather than container. Each tall basket is built in two complete layers: an inner bamboo framework gives the form its height, while coiled sweetgrass and hand-dyed sisal carry the pattern on the outside.
Woven by more than 5,000 women across 52 Gahaya Links cooperatives, an organization founded after the 1994 genocide as a path to economic independence and reconciliation through craft. RFB is one of very few US sources for Agaseke at the tall scale.
Current prices: Nyanza bottles $280 to $435, 16-inch vessel pairs $695, and tall 54 to 65 inch towers $1,635 to $1,690. Shipping is free in the continental US, orders go out within 1 to 3 business days, and returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery. Every piece is one of one and never restocked.
Commonly Asked
Yes. Each is coiled from sweetgrass and hand-dyed sisal by women of the Gahaya Links cooperatives, more than 5,000 weavers across 52 cooperatives in Rwanda. Tall pieces are built over an inner bamboo framework that gives them their height.
RFB Woven Art carries agaseke in three scales: Nyanza bottles (small woven vessels), 16-inch wrapped vessels often sold in pairs, and tall floor-sculpture towers ranging from roughly 54 to 65 inches.
The agaseke appears on the Rwandan national seal and is known as the basket of peace. It is woven as a symbol of unity, traditionally given as a gift to mark important occasions. The craft is passed from mothers to daughters across generations.
Hand-dyed sisal over coiled sweetgrass, with an inner bamboo framework on taller pieces. The sisal is dyed in deep reds, blacks, and earth tones to create the bold geometric patterns.
No. Every piece is one of one. Once a basket sells, it is gone. I never restock because no two baskets are identical.
Dust with a soft, dry cloth and keep out of direct sunlight and moisture to protect the natural dyes. The bamboo framework on tall pieces makes them structurally stable for years of display.
Orders ship within 1 to 3 business days with free shipping in the continental US. Returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery in original condition.