Vintage 1960s Lipao Grass Woven Bag

This Lipao grass woven bag is a true masterpiece of high class handicrafts. Every strand of the bag has been woven by hand, making it a unique and one-of-a-kind piece. The checkered pattern on the exterior in bleached brown color adds to its vintage charm. The Yan Lipao vine is found in the Southern provinces of Thailand. The vines are harvested from the forest and must be finely processed before being worked on by dedicated hands. Silver, gold and copper alloy thread is often inserted into the intricate woven pattern and the finished bags can also display the royal crests of certain members of the royal family. The techniques of weaving, passed down through the generations, allow a mundane plant to be transformed into exquisite works of art, some of which can be worth thousands of dollars. Apart from the beauty of the exquisite patterns, Yan Lipao also features the beautiful natural colors of the vine-interspersed bamboo strips. Because of the time and skill that goes into making each basket, they tend to be sold for relatively high prices. The craftsman must have a passion for this kind of work. The production process, which includes preparing the vine, weaving the patterns, and lacquering and decorating, is very time-consuming. Only 1 or 2 bags can be produced every month. Owners of a Yan Lipao accessory should be very proud of it because of the effort and cultural heritage that comes with the bag.