Traditionally made from rattan, such a ball may be constructed from six long strips (instructions), with five strips defining the pentagonal holes and a sixth strip forming a closed loop that wraps around twice (video).
This ornamental model, with woven strands intersecting to form pentagons atop a glass sphere, shows the basic geometry underlying a woven sepak takraw ball.
More complicated weavings produce triangular patterns on the ball's surface (below).
The two examples shown above are part of a display of artistically crafted woven spheres in the lobby lounge of the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at the University of Texas at Austin. I couldn't help but be reminded of sepak takraw balls when I first saw the display.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information about these intriguing models, and would love to know more about them.
Photos by I. Peterson
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link to the paper. Here are another set of instructions for a different but similar object. Very satisfying to make with packing strapping.
http://www.instructables.com/id/10-strip-woven-ball/
I have seen woven balls that are the dual of this one but have not found or figured out instructions to them yet. They can be expanded to have a completely woven surface where this one can't as easily.