Something in particular that can only be found in the Lowcountry is the art of creating sweetgrass baskets. These hand-woven baskets are a part of Gullah tradition that has been passed through generations upon generations of people. After the 1890′s, sweetgrass baskets began to evolve from agricultural implements to household items.
Through oral history, the technique can be traced from West Africa to the plantations in the South to modern day South Carolina. You may recognize the shapes as being similar to those found in the Southern part of the US but when you check into the heritage of this design and type of weaving you will note that the people are descendants of the Gullah people of the Senegal area of Africa. Sweetgrass baskets can be quite valuable if they are museum-quality or handcrafted, and purchased directly from an artisan. Do not attempt to restore valuable baskets on your own.
Another aspect that adds to the value of sweetgrass baskets is that they are becoming increasingly rare; some have even declared sweetgrass basketmaking a dying art. Though there has been a significant effort to preserve the basketmakers’ trade, highway stands and sidewalk displays have decreased dramatically in number. Residents and visitors to the Lowcountry buy and display sweetgrass baskets in their homes with the same intent and enthusiasm that they would for any other fine piece of art. Although the materials used are different in the United States, the form and function of the African counterparts of sweetgrass baskets are unchanged to this day.
