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
