Above: Traditional Gullah sweet grass baskets in Charleston, South Carolina

Handsome, sturdy and useful, Gullah sweet grass baskets are a unique American craft, one that has survived in an age when so many household furnishings and decorative objects are products of Asian factories. (The Gullah people are African-Americans living on the coast of South Carolina and the nearby barrier islands who developed a distinctive Creole language.) Like many great handicrafts, these baskets tell a fascinating story, as well as offering a high level of artistry and design. They are the very best souvenir you can bring home from a trip to Charleston.

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Above: Traditional Gullah sweet grass baskets in Charleston, South Carolina

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