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Basket Types
The following data is extracted from The Choctaw of Bayou Lacomb, St. Tammay Parish, Louisiana.
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Kishe’ (pack basket), plates 15, 16. The bottom is rectangular; the top flares on two sides. Extreme height, 21 inches. Made entirely of natural colored cane, no dyes being used. The strap (aseta) passes through four loops of the cane, as are shown in the illustration. This particular basket was made at Bayou Lacomb about five years ago by
Pisatuntema (Emma), plate 17.
 Taposhake shakapa (basket elbow [shape]) .—A very old specimen of this peculiar basket is shown in plate l8. This is made of cane, some parts being colored yellow and red with native dyes.
 Taposhake chufa (basket pointed). A typical specimen is shown in plate 18. This is claimed by the Choctaw to be one of the oldest forms made by them.
Covered baskets. These are no longer made, although they are remembered by women as they were fashioned a generation ago. Two examples are here shown:
 
(a) Plate 19, a. This is a very large double basket, formed of two distinct thicknesses of cane; the lower part is 18 inches in height. The basket is rectangular in form. The cover is about 5 inches in depth. The ornamentation is formed of canes dyed red and yellow. The specimen is a rare example of Choctaw basketry. (b) Plate 19, b. A very old basket of Choctaw make. This is a double weave, made entirely of natural colored cane, no dyes having been used. The dimensions are: Length, 8k in.; width, 4 in.; depth, 5 in.
Another form of basket, no longer made but formerly common, was designed to hang on the wall. The basket proper was rectangular or slightly oval in shape. One side extended 8 or 10 inches above the other and was provided with a loop at the top, by means of which the basket was suspended from a nail or peg.
The sieve, winnowing basket, and large flat basket, or tapa, are described in the section treating of the preparation of food (pp. 8, 9).
The Choctaw at Bayou Lacomb have no knowledge of mats ever having been made or used in their tribe.
Source: The Choctaw of Bayou Lacomb, St. Tammay Parish, Louisiana
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