Fresh willow kabłącok

Kabłącok - a unique basket from the bank of Vistula River 

When we saw this basket - kabłącok - for the first time, we were charmed. It is ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. The material may be quite popular but the basket itself is absolutely exceptional, due to its construction, utility and the history of the place where it comes from. This is the only basket made of this material in our collection. 

It is woven of an unusual type of willow which grows on the banks of the Vistula – the longest river in Poland. The Polish name for this kind is konopianka. Its colors woven into this charming basket are usually yellow and warm. Basket makers, folk masters from Lucimia in central Poland, use willow rods with bark on it. The result is a slightly rough surface that reveals the origin of the material directly from the Vistula River. 

Its structure is best suited to modern needs, which makes it so perfectly functional. It’s based on a willow frame – the willow is naturally sourced, it doesn’t come from a plantation. To find two-year-old willow rods, basket makers search for them long on the river meadows to select the best ones, then they collect them by selecting in the privacy of their workshops. 

It is surprising that the Vistula basketry tradition constantly follows the rhythms of nature. Local artisans from Lucimia weave their baskets only in winter, waiting for the last leaves of the willow plantations to fall after the first November frosts. Then the material is ready to work and takes the form of simple, yet pliable, juicy shoots. 

This basket reflects human needs and advanced design thought. The legs are a real innovation, as they are not often found in baskets. This basket has also a flat back and a handle, which make it convenient to hold or hang. 

The construction of the basket is very durable and it can carry quite heavy objects. Today, it is most often chosen as a setting for potted flowers, but also beloved by customers from Japan - for its quality and naturalness. 

You can wash this basket easily, but make sure you dry it well and keep it in a dry place every day.

This is the first basket that has made its way to the Polish List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In the same time it is a first step to the UNESCO list! We worked on it in Serfenta in 2017 together with craftsmen from Lucimia. 

Lucimia is the first place Serfenta visited on our research expedition in search of basketry masters in Poland and kabłącok is the first basket that charmed us and found its way into the unique collection of Serfenta. You can read about this in the first chapter of our book Baskets.  Yes, what you see is a basket, but what the basket is the embodiment of unique skills, years of heritage, and traditions passed down for generations.

This basket is a collector’s item.

We can offer this basket to you thanks to our long-standing friendships formed during Serfenta’s basketry expeditions. By purchasing it, you support local Polish craft and the craftspeople from the village of Lucimia. 

Goes well with:  

See other unique baskets in our collection – zogata basket. 

Material: fresh willow in natural colours, it can be a bit different than this one from the picture.

The basket is 100% handmade, so the dimensions may vary by 1 or 2 cm.