Claris Carter

This intricately woven basket is more than a utilitarian object—it is a sculptural expression of Caymanian heritage. Created using the traditional hedgehog plaiting style, with its distinct scalloped and notched edges, the work showcases the artistic potential of the Silver Thatch Palm, Cayman’s national tree. Once used mainly for rope, roofing, and basketry, silver thatch has been elevated here into a refined, decorative form.

Clarice Carter, whose biography is not well-documented, brings both technical precision and creative flair to her work. Drawing on generations of knowledge, she adapts functional techniques—such as the tight weave and uniform striping—into a contemporary expression of cultural identity. While dyed accents were traditionally added sparingly for special occasions, Carter’s basket transforms the medium itself into art, celebrating the handmade, the historic, and the beautifully ordinary.

Today, such works stand as rare and meaningful symbols of Cayman’s living craft tradition.