20th Century Lidded Leather Basket

An Ethiopian leather covered bread basket with a gorgeous patina. Baskets such as this are found among the Oromo and other ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Such coiled grass baskets are called a “lunch basket,” painstakingly covered with leather and have removable lids. Leather straps help carry the bowl/basket. This basket was used to carry number of flat, tortilla-like breads, called injera or other foodstuffs during a wedding ceremony or in other circumstances involving the community.