Basketry As Ultimate Weaving Art

We have created these sets of a variety of crafts and basketry from the islands we work with. This specially curated set is of basketry from the royal compound of Rindi, Sumba used traditionally to serve guests of honour.

The palm leaves are from a lontar palm tree that is over 50 years old as the carbohydrates found in the leaves is much lower than in younger trees. By choosing leaves from these older trees for the basketry they are not eaten by insects so the baskets maintain their strength and beauty for long time. These baskets can be washed with a gentle soap and dried in the sun after their use in the same way a traditional community would clean them.

The basket weaver begins at the tip of the nose of the chicken on these Ndabi Ri and Ndabi Wai baskets until she finishes the entire basket. The height of the chicken is determined by the size of the lontar leaf.

Ndabi Wai basket . Decorative art – traditionally used as a way to serve a special guest food by offering this masterful basket weaving of a chicken. This is can be used as a decorative food covering for a special event. Basketry with lontar palm (Borassus flabellifer). Made in Rindi, East Sumba, 2021. Size 13 x 13 x 35 cm / 5 x 5 x 14 in.
1 piece

Ndabi Ri basket. Decorative art – traditionally used as a way to serve a special guest food by offering this masterful basket weaving of a chicken. This is can be used as a decorative food covering for a special event. Basketry with lontar palm (Borassus flabellifer). Made in Rindi, East Sumba, 2021. Size 14 x 14 x 18 cm / 5.5 x 5.5 x 7 in
1 piece

Tanga Wahilu. Betelnut Basket - traditionaly used for offering betelnut between the host and visitor in Sumba before any conversation begins. Basketry with lontar palm (Borassus flabellifer). Made in Rindi, East Sumba, 2021. Size 18 x 13 x 3 cm / 7 x 5 x 1 in
2 pieces