Straw Beehive

Stunning and unique beehive hand woven with rye straw. This type of beehive is called a skep.

At the past, bees were kept in straw skeps. Skeps are essentially upturned straw baskets under which bees form their naturally curvy honey comb. They have been used for about 2000 years. Initially they were made from wicker plastered with mud and dung but from the Middle Ages they were made of straw. In northern and western Europe, skeps were made of coils of grass or straw. In its simplest form, there is a single entrance at the bottom of the skep. This skep design included a smaller woven basket (cap) on top over a small hole in the main skep.

It's made using an old, traditional technique called coiling. Coiled straw work is a basketry technique where rye or wheat straw is made into coils and then bound into shape with strips of bramble, cane or string. Coiled straw was used for a wide range of baskets, bowls and bee skeps. 

Coiling technique is not that popular anymore. Sadly, it’s becoming forgotten. Folka loves it, I hope you too. Let’s revive this beautiful, sustainable craft together!

Measurements: 50 cm height / 50 cm width 

Hand crafted by artist Mikołaj from sustainable, freshly harvested rye straw in Poland.