The San Francisco International Airport’s SFO Museum is launching an exhibition focused on the art of Chinese basketry and containers, showcasing pieces that date back to 19th- and early 20th-century China. This exhibition, highlighting the craftsmanship of traditional Chinese baskets and containers, includes many hand-painted motifs and auspicious symbols.
Chinese artisans have been crafting containers from bamboo, reeds, and willow since the Neolithic period. Historically, practical and simply decorated baskets were made in northern China, while those from central and southern China often featured embellishments of wood, metal, and lacquer. The exhibition will display a range of baskets varying in size and function—from sewing baskets and hat containers to woven backpacks.
Despite the prevalence of mass-produced plastic containers today, handwoven bamboo baskets are still predominant in parts of rural China, particularly in the southwest. The exhibition also includes ornate betrothal or gift baskets traditionally filled with food and gifts for a bride-to-be, which are still crafted in southeastern provinces, often for tourism and international markets. Some displayed items are crafted entirely from wood and lacquered to mimic basket forms.
The exhibition will be accessible at the Harvey Milk Terminal 1 of the San Francisco International Airport from April 19, 2025, to June 7, 2026. It is open to ticketed passengers and through prior arrangement.
Since 1980, the SFO Museum has aimed to delight and educate a global audience through its diverse programming. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums in 1999, it is reputed as the only accredited museum in an airport. The museum operates over twenty-five sites within the airport, including the Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum which houses a significant collection related to the history of commercial aviation.
