Museo dell'intreccio mediterraneo di Castelsardo

The baskets of male competence, made using rods and cane, have similar characteristics all over the Mediterranean basin. They were used for harvesting and transporting fruit, vegetables and other foodstuffs but also to transport laundry, coal, wood and stones and for fishing activities. They can be globular, oval or bowl-shaped, with low or high sides, straight or curved.

They usually have one, or two, plaited handles. The artifacts are made with the warp initially forming a cross that is then subdivided in spokes, using various Mediterranean plant fibers: oleaster, mastic tree, phillyrea, willow, elm, wild broom and myrtle The base of the basket is always very resistant in order to support the weight of its contents.

The walls are woven with thin strips of cane and the rim is made by twisting the warp rods into a plait. The tools used are few: a hatchet, knife, scissors and punch with a cutting beak made out of cane.