Small Woven Basket on 4 sewn-on legs - Where and when was it made? Function?

I recently acquired this small basket. It seems to be very old and I believe it is native. Can anyone tell me where it was made and when and what its purpose is? It is 5.75" in diameter at top excluding the legs. It is 5.25" high and 9.5" across the legs at the bottom. The inside is painted red. The legs appear to have been painted silver originally and then painted red over that. There are deposits of clay? or mud? around the top and the way the paint has peeled off along the legs, I think it originally covered all the stitching.

 

I don't think this is very "old" but rather made to "look old" as the weave is in near perfect shape, while the corner pieces are.. not. I'm sorry, this is just my first opinion, please wait for others who may know more about old baskets than I do.

 

It isn't any kind of Native American; but those who know about world basketry will surely be along soon.

 

I get the feeling it is Southeast Asian, but I can't say for sure.
@2manybooks , @Taupou ?

 

either Ifugao flower pot basket....or Chinese ...

 

I have not seen one quite like it, but the materials (rattan and wood), and the structure of the base remind me of others from southeast Asia and the Philippines. Somewhat similar to this one from Thailand:

https://www.chairish.com/product/3040286/vintage-asian-bamboo-rattan-wood-base-rice-basket

 

I looked at several pages of Ifugao baskets and I agree that the basketry is quite similar, but I'm not seeing anything with wooden legs (as opposed to bamboo). The leg structure on this appears to be deliberately decorative.

 

then I'd have to consider chinese..

@Taupou

 

Still looking for some more definitive answers
@Taupou
I've taken some more pictures to show the detail. The 1st picture shows some of the mud/clay around the rim and also that the paint (both silver and red) was applied over the mud. The 2nd picture shows remnants of the mud (and paint on the inside of the rim. It looks like the entire rim and down the legs (covering the stitching) was all encased in clay and painted. Pictures #3 & 4 shows the sides of a couple of the legs where the clay would have been. Picture #5 shows where the reed or bamboo on the top rim is terminated by being punched into the underlying layer.
These details strike me as unusual and should point to a specific culture - perhaps it had a ceremonial function.

 

Sorry I couldn't answer sooner, but I really can't add too much to what has already been said. I haven't seen this exact basket before, but I have seen very similar ones...made from bamboo with same type of "antique finish," same woven pattern, similar construction of wooden base, and red inside.

They were sold for several years by an older gentleman at a reputable antique show, who sold "old looking," (and some antique) Chinese imports. In talking to him over the years, he admitted that the Chinese were experts at producing "antiques," and often he couldn't tell the difference, and/or didn't care.

It just seems to me, that if these had been actually used, the red paint would show wear in the inside, not the outside. I'd therefore think it is a fairly recent basket from China, attempting to fit in the "antique" category.

 

OK, the consensus is that this is a reproduction of something. But a repro of what? What was the original and what was its function?

 

Is it? As far as I know, no one mentioned a reproduction.

 

I think it is just a little basket, small enough to be easily exported, probably made in China, made to look old and interesting to attract buyers. It obviously piqued your interest.

 

My Dad bought and sold "stuff" - antiques and junque. He would leave chairs and small tables out in the weather until they looked appropriately "antique" and get more money for them.