Basketry · storage vessel

About this work

Baskets serve a multitude of purposes. They are used for storing rice, winnowing rice, salting meat, and transporting agricultural crops. Some are used as containers for betel nut chew and tobacco, with a secret compartment for money. Baskets can be made as backpacks and used when working on the terraces or on hunting expeditions. Some are shaped like traditional Chinese heirloom jars. The large baskets are often filled with rice by prestigious members of the community, and the rice is given as a wedding gift. The baskets are later returned to the owner.

Baskets are usually made of bamboo, rattan, or both; a vine-like bamboo called anes or anis is commonly used. The most common construction technique is plaiting, but twining and coiling are also used. In some Igorot groups, such as the Kalinga, basket making is done only by men, while in others, such as the Ifugao, it is done by both men and women.