Vintage Basque Jai Alai Cesta, Hand-Woven Reed and Leather

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An authentic jai alai cesta, hand-woven from Spanish reed over a bent chestnut rib frame, with a stitched leather glove … Read more An authentic jai alai cesta, hand-woven from Spanish reed over a bent chestnut rib frame, with a stitched leather glove and twine lashings.

Each cesta is made by hand in the Basque Country, where only a handful of craftsmen still produce them. The reed is woven around a curved wood frame in a process that takes days, and every one is fitted to a specific player. The deep hooked basket is what allows the pelota to be caught and hurled at speeds over 150 mph — the fastest ball in any sport.

The form is remarkable on its own: a long crescent with a swept, almost calligraphic curve. Handsome mounted on a wall, propped on a shelf, or laid across a console.

Dimensions: 13 x 26 See less