The bamboo product is an open-weave carrying basket made (fig.264, 295). This basket is generally used by women as a rough work basket for carrying firewood, bamboo water tubes, etc. The basket, made entirely of bamboo outer splits, is carried over the back with a strap resting on the shoulder. The basket has an extremely strong construction which is very resistant of vertical loads. This is due to the construction pattern as well as the fact that fairly thick strips of bamboo are used. 
Size
and Structure
The basket has a rectangular base of sides 220 mm
by 160 mm, a circular rim of diameter 360 mm and a height of 360 mm. The base is woven in
a simple basket weave and unlike other baskets of this type, three sets of elements make
up the base weave instead of these being in pairs. Individual elements are 3 mm wide and 1
to 1.5 mm thick. The side weave is an open-hexagonal weave with the horizontal element
moving in a spiral (fig.296). The rim is self-strengthened in a simple and
interesting manner, resulting in a strong, flat, but flexible edge with no addition to the
thickness of the hexagonal weave (fig. 297). |
The strengthening of the sides, done
vertically from the corners of he base to the rim, is achieved by a cane split, about 4 mm
wide and 2.5 mm thick, which is folded over the rim before the two ends twist around each
other and simultaneously weave in and out of the side weave all the way down to the corner
of the base. The perimeter of the base rectangle is also strengthened in a similar manner.
