Basketry is the craft of weaving baskets and similar containers from flexible materials like reeds, willow branches, grass, or strips of wood. A skilled basket maker bends and interlaces these materials over and under each other, creating sturdy, useful objects without using glue or nails.

Basketry is one of humanity's oldest crafts, practiced for thousands of years across nearly every culture. People have woven baskets to carry food from gardens, store grain, catch fish, and even carry babies. Native American tribes developed distinctive basketry styles, some so tightly woven they could hold water. In many parts of the world, basket weavers still practice traditional patterns passed down through generations.

The word also refers to baskets as a group or category. A museum might display examples of basketry from different countries, or a craftsperson might specialize in basketry alongside pottery and weaving.

Making a basket requires patience and skill. The weaver must keep tension even, follow complex patterns, and know which materials work best for different purposes. A basket for holding heavy vegetables needs thicker, stronger materials than a decorative basket for displaying flowers. Though modern factories produce cheap plastic containers, handmade basketry remains valued for its beauty, craftsmanship, and connection to ancient traditions.