114 | Culture Ways of Life and Wisdom
“ Thai woven basketry
craftsmanship not only
expresses the wisdom of
the local community’s
way of life, but its also
reflects the value of folk
craftsmen’s emotional and
mind expressions, through
the fine details, neats and
the delicate emotions of
the weavers very well.”
The main purpose of basketwork is the usability. The shape is determined by applications,
such as Khu Ti Khao of the North. It is a large woven basket container with about 2-3 meters
in diameter and 1 meter high, used for threshing rice. Thus, the container’s mouth must be
woven wider and the base is slightly lifted. For Takraeng Chon Pla (fishing sieve). If using to
catch a small fish, the sieve’s mesh will be small. If catching a bigger fish, the sieve will be larger
with wider mesh and raised rim.
Living culture in each region also affects the production of different basketwork. For example,
people in the Northeastern region and the Northern region prefer having sticky rice. Therefore,
they invent Kratip and Kong Khao for keeping the steamed sticky rice. But the Kratip and Kong
Khao in both regions are different in details. Isan Kratip is more likely woven natural bamboo
without any patterns, while the Northern Kong Khao is mostly made of palm or bamboo
leaves, with colorful and beautiful patterns. The lifestyles of Thai people in the central region
are tied with water. Therefore, they have various types of functional basketry which facilitates
their activities with water, such as a Krachang (floating fish cage), Lob (rattan fish trap) and Sai
(bamboo fishing trap) for catching aquatic creatures along the shore. In contrast, the Southern
Thais have different basketry patterns from that of other regions, such as Kradong Fat (winnowing
basket), an oval shaped container for filtering grains. It looks similar to a heart, not as round
as a Kradong Fat in the Central region.