Zhuwan Willow Wares

Zhuwan Willow Wares

　　Produced in Xihua, Henan. The low-lying areas along the Qingliu River and Ying River in Xihua County are abundant in basket willow. In the dog days of summer, the willow branches are cut, peeled, and the resulting strips are white, soft, and highly suitable for weaving. Those from Maizhuang and Baimiao are of the highest quality — their strips are long, white, hollow, tough yet pliable, and do not crack, split, or break during processing. Products include winnowing baskets, dustpans, boxes, baskets, hampers, and bins, all with attractive shapes, novel designs, fine craftsmanship, and lasting durability. Among them, the octagonal type, commonly known as the eight-sided basket or collapsible winnowing basket, is the most exquisite and elegant. The finished products have no cracked, split, or broken strips, the edges are evenly bound with thread, the bottoms are woven with decorative patterns, are leakproof when dripped on, produce a resonant sound when struck, can support a person standing on them without deforming, and are pure white without any mixed colors.