West African slaves began weaving these baskets from bulrush which is a strong but supple marshgrass. The original purpose was to winnow rice from chaff on plantations.
Many people display these beautiful works of art in their homes. If you'd like to have a sweetgrass basket for yourself, they can be found at the Charleston City Market and many of the gift stores in South Carolina. There are many roadside stands where artisans sell baskets.
Beautiful artwork! Jackie, thanks for bringing these lovely baskets to my attention. My grandmother created baskets from pine needles. I can appreciate the work involved.
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