Woven collection · handwoven rattan tote
The Spiral Weave
Handwoven rattan tote with spiral bands.
Storytelling
Two bands of spirals run across this tote, turning a practical woven form into a striking piece of graphic design. The pattern is the first thing you notice; up close, the individual strips of rattan give it its texture and rhythm.
Patterned basketry has a long and varied history across Borneo. The British Museum holds an Iban rattan seed basket decorated with woven zigzags and spirals, a documented example of how geometric forms have been worked into functional objects. This tote belongs to a contemporary context, so that historical example is a point of comparison, not an attribution of this bag or an explanation of what its spirals mean.
Documented. Material, availability and reference as listed above; origin as reported by the source. The photographs show the object complete.
Not claimed. Maker, date or attribution beyond the reported origin. No antique, ritual or museum status is implied.
Sold · This object has found its collector. It remains published for reference; enquiries about similar pieces are welcome.
Back to Woven collection or the collection. Background in context. Reading: Borneo, Made by Hand. For projects, see sourcing.