Description
LB4
Ta Oi people
Attapeu area Laos/ Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Tri areas of Vietnam
Storage or transport rice basket.
Bamboo, rattan, cotton and wood
8.25 in. across at base, 36 in. tall, 14 in. across the top lid, 31.5 in. deep inside.
Very good condition. The straps seem to be have been replacements from the original ones.
Collected in Northern Thailand early 90’s. The Ta Oi live both in Vietnam and in neighboring Laos. Traditional they would live in the foothills as well as the higher uplands but have filtering down in the lower valleys over the decades. They are part of the Mon-Khmer language group and, like most groups in the region are known by several names such as Paco, Pa hy, Ca tua but call themselves Ta uot. The live in close proximity of the Co tu peoples and share common design in beautiful textiles with beads woven into them for enhance decoration and design.
Baskets like this one are used for storage of rice or to transport it from field to village. Decorated with tuffs of home-grown cotton dyed indigo blue around the top. Reinforced corners run the length of the basket giving it strength, are wrapped with a coiling of bamboo that intersect with decorative bands of woven bamboo circling the center with long strings of black cotton tied onto to it. The legs that sprawl out are held in place with the wooden base make to it a sturdy and stable support. The Bamboo lid fits snugly in place and also reinforced for strength and fit. Strips of bamboo make up the replacement straps.
A rich honey brown patina from use and wear. A real object from a distant land.
