Wicker weaving has been a craft since the times when the houses were made of thick wickerwork covered with clay and thatched roofs. Wickerwork was also used to make various objects used for the harvesting, carrying and preserving of farming products.
In Romania this tradition seems to have derived from the woodworking craft practised by the gypsies, who descended from ancient Indian goldsmiths and for whom wood processing was a means of earning their living. In time they specialized on making household and decorative objects, toys, baskets, mats, cradles and fences.
The craftsmen from Mălâncrav have preserved and continued this tradition and today they make different models and shapes of baskets of hazel, twine or willow, baskets of bigger or smaller size for holding firewood, hops or toyes.
The raw material is brought from the forests and from the surrounding hills or from the valleys, throughout the whole year. In their natural state or softened in hot water, the twigs are carefully selected and woven to objects of different sizes and shapes. Towards the end of summer corn leaves and read are collected to make mats, baskets and objects for decoration are still used in the traditional houses.
Craftsmen:
Familia Horvath, house 181
Toma Martin, house 222
