shell and chinoiserie: Seaside style with an Eastern accent

10.05.2013

Sweetgrass baskets have been a beloved form of local art in the Lowcountry for over 300 years. When slaves arrived from West Africa, they brought with them their craft of basket weaving. These baskets became quite useful on plantations to collect and store crops. Since then, the art of weaving these beautiful baskets has been passed down from generation to generation and today sweetgrass baskets are a coveted commodity among locals and tourists alike.

Here are some pretty ways to display baskets as art in your home:

Better Homes and Gardens

Taryn Leibowitz and Tammie McLachlan
via Interiors Digital

Focal Point Styling blog

House & Garden

Eclectic Charleston

Villa Rossese at Montaluce 2008 Showhouse
by Des-syn

Jute Design

via West Elm

Learn more about the history of sweetgrass baskets here and purchase your own at The Market in downtown Charleston or just north of downtown along the Sweetgrass Corridor in Mt. Pleasant.

Enjoy!

Emilie

4 comments:

Khammany said...: So many different ways to display these! I love the ones in the bedroom in the first photo and the ones in the Villa Rossese dining room. They're a wonderful accent!; October 5, 2013 at 4:06 PM
emilie at shell & chinoiserie said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; October 5, 2013 at 8:45 PM
emilie at shell & chinoiserie said...: Those two seem similar to the traditional sweetgrass baskets--or "fanners"--of the Lowcountry (especially the ones in the bedroom) and are my favorites, too! The fanners in the image from Eclectic Charleston are true sweetgrass baskets. They make for such a beautiful and different way to decorate!; October 5, 2013 at 8:45 PM
Unknown said...: Hi Emilie! Thanks so much for reaching out on my IG feed today! I have been perusing your blog and I swear we are kindred spirits. Charleston is my favorite place in the world and I will be moving there...one day :) I am loving all your coastal posts and style. Maybe we'll run into one another sometime as we are down there from Charlotte often. Husk/The Bar at Husk is our fave restaurant ever! Nice to "meet" you and I am signing up for your posts :); April 3, 2014 at 11:09 PM