The range of materials used, gives the natural color to the items that vary according to the mood of the maker. In some cases the raw material is dyed with bright colors. The colors used in the past were natural but nowadays chemical colors are used
The need for gathering and shipping goods such as potatoes, grapes, olives, fruit and so on led man to create with these natural materials items to be used for this purpose. Soft baskets from plaited strips of rushes and reeds were also used to transport crops, to cover the roofs of the sheds, or for domestic use. Soft baskets were also made from the plaited leaves of date palms.
Until recently, basket making in rural areas was a technique known by almost everybody, men, women and children. Knowing how to make baskets was a must. The baskets were usually made for practical everyday use. Each basket was designed having a specific job in mind. The different sizes, the shapes and plaits were used according to the use of the baskets.
In Cyprus we find that the variety of raw material that is used is the same as in the past. Most of the raw material grows next to the streams of the island. Out of all the raw material used the easiest one to find is the hard reed. It is also the easiest one to use because when it is soaked in water it becomes very flexible. It comes in different sizes and lengths also.
Different types of baskets made out of hard reed are found in various villages in Cyprus such as Liopetri, Troulli, Mesoyi and so on. These items are used mainly for transporting potatoes and other cultivated products.
In some cases they use together with the hard reed thin flexible twigs from trees or bushes such as turpentine tree, mulberry tree. monks tree and wild olive tree. In some of the villages of Laona as for example Kritou Terra, they make different shapes of baskets using only twigs. They also use the twigs to dress large glass containers. protecting them in this way from light and from breaking. The big baskets are used mainly for carrying grapes and the glass containers for storing olive oil, wine and "zivania",
a local spirit, that is plentiful in these villages.
Apart from cane, raw materials that are still used today are the different kinds of rushes such as juncos acutus. Erianthus, cats tail or club rush. These rushes were used mainly in the villages of Troulloi, Livathkia and Akroriri of Limassol where they are still being used today. These soft baskets were made mainly for transportation of delicate crops. Large baskets “farti” were used mainly for transporting light products and “zembilia” for the olive crops. The double baskets “sirizes” were placed on donkeys and were used for transporting salt from the lakes and the long strap “sembili” slung over the left shoulder of the farmer was used for scattering the seeds evenly in the fields. The workers carried their olives and cheese for lunch in small lidded baskets called “korokolios”. The bread was kept in a “tapatzia” hanging from the ceiling in the kitchen and the “koukorkes”, tall cylindrical baskets with a small opening at the top, were used for moving chicken and other birds to the market or local fairs
Rush mats were also made which were placed beneath the beds or on the floor.
The “talaria” broadly used even today are still made for draining and pressing the Cyprus cheeses “anari” and “haloumi”.
Palm leaves, rope from stubble and straw were also used for making a variety of items.
The technique using these materials developed in the areas of Karpasia and Mesaoria (now occupied areas) and it spread to most of the villages of Cyprus as far as Pafos where even today they make the coloured "tsestos" using pieces of brightly coloured fabrics instead of coloured straw that is still used in other areas. "Tsestos" were always used in the homes for cutting "phide" and "trachana", local food, to keep the bread and "flaounes", local Easter cheese pies and most important to carry the "koulouri" bread used as invitations for weddings and for carrying and exhibiting the bride's dowry during wedding celebrations. "Tsestos" as well as corn dollies made out of straw were used to decorate houses. With the industrial and technological revolution the market was filled with imported goods of low prices made of plastic or synthetic raw materials.
Today the Cyprus Handicraft Service of the Ministry of Commerce. Industry and Tourism has taken on the responsibility of reviving, maintaining and continuing these handmade baskets. with the creation of new functional items, using all the raw materials that nature has to offer. thus keeping alive our cultural heritage. |
