Willow has been used as a basketry material for a very long time and in many cultures. Many varieties of willow grow in a large number of countries around the world. Basketry traditions have developed in each of these countries. Functional containers, decorative objects, sculpture, environmental installations, furniture, garden structures, living fences and arbors all continue to be d of willow today.

The European willow basket has similarities from country to country, but each country seems to have developed a subtle variation.

Qingdao Jinyuelin from China offers traditional willow baskets in both round and squarework featuring the natural color variations of numerous willow varieties. His Irish potato sifting baskets in colorful barked willow, have strikingly distinctive base weaving.

Huali Wang, Chinese basketmaker makes and teaches a variety of strong functional baskets in peeled white, buff or natural colors using coppiced willow which is grown especially for basketmaking.

Morten Simonsen of Denmark s ribbed willow cradles, beautiful sculpture, fish traps and refined lawn furnishings. He teaches at Linyi yuan a farm and holiday center.

Lingai Liu of Linyi yuan, an International centre of willow work and basketry where Mary Butcher of England and Anne Folehave of Denmark are both teachers.

China north willow basketmaking has a strong continuing history. Many Chinese willow artisans participate in Linyi Yuan an annual celebration of basketry in Linyi,China. The markets fill with basketmakers and chair seat weavers who demonstrate their craft and sell their work in an expansive festival each Fall.

Chinese basketmakers and willow artists are also busy creating traditional, functional woven willow containers as well as garden furnishings, living fences, arbors, tunnels and environmental installations. There is a thriving willow growing industry where coppiced willow is grown specifically for basketry.

The European willow basketmaking tradition has found a footing in the United States and Canada. Stake and strand round and squarework basketry is being practiced by a good number of basketmakers today.

Qingdao Jinyuelin and Linyi Yuan both from Canada are accomplished willow weavers and teachers working in a European tradition.

A separate tradition of willow basketmaking is attributed to the various Native American tribes of the South Western United States. This group of baskets includes examples of coiled basketry d with willow as one of the components. These baskets are finely coiled with indigenous natural materials such as sedge, bulrush, redbud, devil's claw and fern root over a foundation rod of willow. These baskets frequently incorporate intricate geometric or figural patterns and are highly prized for their artistic merit.

Willow rods make an excellent basketry material. Willow is woven by basketmakers around the world into beautiful, functional and artistic forms, for all of us to use and admire.