The availability of native materials coupled with the Thai inventiveness make a good souvenir for the visitor

In western societies, basket handicraft may not be as important as they are in Thailand. They come in handy only at picnics.

In a remote Thai rice paddy, a fish notices the bait inside the “sum pla,” a bamboo basket that serves as a fish trap. It wriggles its way to the small opening. An ingenious device in the hole prevents the fish from turning back.

In the carefully decorated living room of a western home, the “sum pla” sits silently in a corner. Guests notice it, even admire at how it adds contrast to the modern furnishings in a room.

Although the fish trap basket is one of the popular woven wonders, in both the rice fields and the western homes, it is just one of the special baskets made by Thais.

There is a Thai basket for every purpose, some stretching the imagination of the western mind. For example, measuring and carrying coconuts is done with a special basket. Winnowing rice requires a special basket, too. So do transporting pigs to the market, rearing silkworms, storing clothes and packing charcoal, to mention just a few.

Thus, Thais have developed a basket industry that has grown not only in quantity of production, but also in the style and processes of creation.

Bamboo is a favorite material for baskets for two reasons: availability and durability. As a tropical plant, it is found in abundance throughout the country. The main bamboo stalk is stripped into thin slices with a special curved knife. They are smoothened until thin and flexible, yet tough enough to withstand the weight of a pig bound for the market.

Rattan, found mostly in the southern provinces is another favorite material. Depending on the kind of basket to be made, rattan can be substituted for bamboo. Strength and flexibility of the finished product are taken into consideration. The thin, round stems of the rattan make for very beautiful baskets.

Lately, the market for more fancier and detailed baskets has grown dramatically. Items such as decorative fans, hats, shoulder bags and a wide assortment of miniature animals have become very popular among tourists looking for a souvenir or gift to take home with them.

Functional baskets, however, are still the mainstay of Thai basketry. And though more and more people are now using them for decorative purposes, they can still be used in the good old-fashioned way.