Peter Juriga
The colour grey dominates the bark of old trees, sometimes with a hint of brown. The same applies to the willow, the most common material for home-made wicker weaving. However, if we look at young, one-year-old wood branches, the range of colours is wider. This can be clearly seen on basket-making willows, which are cut every year, thereby encouraging the tree, or most often shrub, to grow new long, thin branches. Basket-makers in fact use only these one-year growths – sticks – which grow from spring to autumn. On good quality willows, they do not have lateral branches and if they do, the latter are flexible and excellent for weaving. There are many basket-makers who do not master the harmony of colours, but there are also some who are virtuosos. Many try to use the most striking combinations of wicker-weaving, but there are also those who know that less is more, and are more careful with colours.