Paem Pha (Shan Tumpline Basket) — Bamboo-Skin Strips Woven Close all over, Round Mouth, Square Base, a Rolled-Strip Rim, One Loop in Front and Two Behind for a Forehead Strap

"Fix a loop at the front a fair distance from the base, and two more loops of the same size near the top toward the back, about a quarter of the height below the mouth." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author วิบูลย์ ลี้สุวรรณ (Wiboon Leesuwan), CC BY 4.0)

Split bamboo-skin strips and weave them close together all over, with a round mouth and a square tapered base.

Do not fit a rim: roll strips to form the rim.

Fix a loop at the front a fair distance from the base, and two loops of the same size near the top toward the back, about a quarter of the height below the mouth. Run a cord from front to back and tie it to a strip or rattan braided into a flat band like a belt, to go over the head.

Photos of a real paem pha (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author วิบูลย์ ลี้สุวรรณ (Wiboon Leesuwan), CC BY 4.0).

Fill it with food and gear and carry it by the braided strap over your head to the fields or into the forest on hilly, mountainous land.

Besides the Shan, many highland ethnic groups of northern Thailand use this kind of basket, as it suits hilly and mountainous land. Take care with the knife when splitting strips. Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "แปมพะ", author วิบูลย์ ลี้สุวรรณ (Wiboon Leesuwan) (CC BY 4.0 licence). **Limits** The source gives no basket size, strap length or loop material.