This article is written for the museum curator and collections technician in order to give them a better understanding of materials and problems involved in the proper care of an ethnographic basketry collection. The basic structure of baskets, including natural materials and weaving patterns, is given, relating this to the final stability and durability of the finished basket. Environmental parameters for the prolongation of the stability of the materials are given and explained. Recommendations on a general level are included to help deal with insect infestations. Support methods used on collections in the past are critiqued and a safe alternative is offered, along with a guideline for initial condition assessment.