This is a handled basket made from pine roots in Lithuania.

In Japanese basketry, bamboo, grasses, tree bark, or vines are mainly used, but baskets made from tree roots are hardly ever seen in Japan.

In Lithuania, located in the north with long, cold winters, the hardiness of pine makes it well suited to the climate.

And in Lithuania, people have long woven baskets from tree roots.

Near the capital, Vilnius, there are families who have been weaving baskets for generations—the sisters Ira and Ana.

Ira and Ana go into the forest themselves to gather wild pine roots and weave with them.
In Lithuania, harvesting one’s own materials for weaving, including willow, has become rare today.

Lithuania has no mountains and is flat in terrain, so sunlight reaches the forest floor.

Unlike Japan, where vines grow thickly in the mountains, Lithuania may have used roots of plants instead to make baskets.

Pine roots are vine-like, shaped somewhat like burdock roots, and in the poor soil they grow out of the ground.

The roots are harvested in summer and woven in winter. Since the material with bark becomes brittle in summer dryness, the humid winter is better suited for weaving.

On this page we introduce four types of round (circle) baskets:
S and M sizes, each in “one-handle” and “double-handle” styles.

Now, let us look at each type.

These pine root baskets are woven without a mold.
Looking closely, each one has subtle differences in shape and texture.
That, too, is part of their charm.

With age, the color of pine roots gradually becomes darker and richer.
Please enjoy these changes over time.

Please choose the type that best suits you.

__Baskets in Lithuania__

Lithuania is the southernmost of the three Baltic states,
which lie in northeastern Europe along the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.
It borders Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east, Poland to the south, and the Russian territory to the west.
In its history, there were times when it was united with Poland or Russia, and there are deep cultural ties.

Lithuania has many lakes, including Lake Vištytis, as well as extensive wetlands and woodlands.
The terrain is generally flat and level, with no mountains of significant elevation.

Perhaps because of this, even in cities, woodlands and nature are close at hand and part of daily life.
In autumn, people in Lithuania enjoy mushroom hunting and berry gathering.
They also pick apples and herbs from their gardens, which form part of their everyday diet.

Although baskets made from natural materials are becoming fewer,
in Lithuania baskets have traditionally been used not for shopping or storage, but for harvesting.
Even today they remain closely connected with mushroom hunting, berry picking, and gathering herbs.

Mushrooms picked in the forest are still breathing, so if placed in plastic bags they spoil.
But in a breathable basket, the mushrooms can continue to breathe, making it a good match.
For herbs as well, such as wild linden or lime blossoms gathered from under the trees,
baskets are better than plastic or vinyl because they prevent moisture from building up.

In Lithuania, there is the idea that “the gifts of the forest belong to everyone,”
and this is guaranteed by law, allowing people to go freely into the forest in daily life.

Baskets that receive the blessings of the forest—practical and symbolic at the same time—
make us wish that Lithuania’s basket culture will continue far into the future.

Please note:
This item ships from Japan.
As the buyer, you are responsible for any import duties, customs fees, or local taxes that may be charged in your country.
These costs are not included in the item price or shipping cost.
Please check with your local customs authority if you are unsure about any potential charges before placing your order.