Context (Field collection)
This plate was purchased on 27 April 2000 from The BAT Centre, 45 Maritime Place, Small Craft Harbour, Durban. The BAT Centre business card states: 'Specialists in contemporary Zulu art and craft. Retail and wholesale'.

This object was collected by Julia Tanner while undertaking fieldwork in South Africa from March-May 2000. The fieldwork was financed by MAA's Crowther-Beynon Fund, in order to research and update MAA's South African collections.
Event Date 27/04/2000
Author: maa

Context (Analysis)
The earlier types of telephone wire baskets were made with a weaving technique, but more contemporary examples, such as the above, are made with a coiling technique. In addition, the earlier shape was bowl-like, while these later items are flatter and more plate-like. (cf. 1994.186 & 1994.187; telephone wire bowls in the South African collection at MAA).
Event Date 2001
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (Related Documents)
See exhibition programme in MAA archives, 'Durbs to Freo Wire and Metal Act. Perth International Arts Festival 2000. Exhibition of Zulu Art, 29 January-20 February', for an overview of contemporary South African crafts and pictures of similar wirework plates.
Event Date 2001
Author: Lucie Carreau

Description (Physical description)
A plate made of tightly coiled telephone wire, in blue, orange, white, yellow, red, green, pink, black, grey and brown. The central core of the plate is made of orange and white wire, with an outer ring of yellow and blue wire. The inner background colour is of pale blue and the outer background is darker blue. The two outermost coils of the plate are done in white wire. The surface is decorated with images of figures, animals, houses and numerous geometric shapes, including diamonds and triangles. The plate is slightly curved from the horizontal.
Event Date 5/5/2012
Author: maa