The Art of Basketry [Hardcover]

Kari Lonning (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2000

“Demonstrates the variety, technical ingenuity and artistic maturity of the contemporary basketry field and invites the reader to try a hand at the craft. Half the book is a guide through basic and progressively more complex basketry techniques illustrated with Lonning’s rattan reed baskets. The rest features a gallery of works by 23 noted basketry artists, who comment on their methods and aesthetic philosophy.”—American Craft.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"...demonstrates the variety, technical ingenuity and artistic maturity of the contemporary basketry field..."--American Craft

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 132 pages
• Publisher: Sterling/Chapelle (June 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806920416
• ISBN-13: 978-0806920412
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 9.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,760,720 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Basketry as Art, May 9, 2000

By 

JBD "[e-mail]" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Art of Basketry (Hardcover)

If this review were being written for a tabloid publication, I might title it "Kari Lonning Reveals All"; all, that is, of the unique techniques that she uses to create the signature wicker baskets by which she is recognized world-wide.

Most basketry books, written by well-known artists, give very good basic techniques but stop short of giving instructions in the way the work was made to be distinctive. Not so with The Art of Basketry.

Beginning with the basics, she soon follows with clearly written instructions, illustrated with color photograph step-by-step sequences of her distinctive styles: her double wall cone shaped pieces, her "hairy" baskets, her grid bases and her beautiful color patterning. For example, her spiral patterns look very different from the wicker spirals I have been taught. How does she do it? By using 4,5, even 6 rod waling- that's how.

All illustrations are done with color photographs, not diagrams. Many full color photographs of her work are included.

The remainder of the book explores the work of 23 other recognized baskets artists such as Leon Niehues, Dona Look and the McColleys. They each give their artist's statement, their motivation, and some "hints" at how their items are created. Again full color photographs of their work make each page interesting and beautiful.

This book is a "must have" for anyone wanting to expand their wicker basketry skill to "beyond the ordinary". It is also for anyone interested in a collection of photographs of artistic baskets and for anyone who works with design through color combinations.

I would highly recommend it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Excellent, July 18, 2011

By 

Ohioan - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Basketry (Paperback)

This book contains excellent photos and excellent instructions which work together to show an advanced weaver how to make complex round-reed baskets. The designs are stunning. The second half of the book features basket weavers other than Kari Lonnig, with photos of their baskets and discussion of their techniques, told in first person. An excellent addition to anyone's basket-weaving library.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An innovative master of her art, March 30, 2011

By 

Bonnie Gibson "ArizonaGourds" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Basketry (Paperback)

I discovered Kari's work on her Facebook page, and was excited to find out she had written a book. Sadly, the book is out of print, but at least you can still find it on Amazon from third party sellers.

This is an instruction book as well as a beautifully illustrated book. Kari's techniques are advanced, but the instructions are well done and should steer most people through the process. She shows things like double walled baskets, the "Hairy" technique (where spokes protrude out of the basket in a delightful contemporary appearing way) and she uses dyes like a paint pallete.

In addition, there is a wonderful gallery of photos from other basketry artists. I highly recommend this book!