This set of nested hampers reminded me of Mr. Kwok, the old gent I met on the Star Ferry crossing over from Hong Kong to Kowloon.

He was 89, wiry and quick, filled with the thin energy of rice and winter soup, and history. Born in the reign of the Dowager Empress. Lived through the revolution of Sun Yat-sen, Chiang Kai-shek, Mao, the Cultural Revolution, Nixon in China, and Tiananmen. He was pleased when I asked him about his handsome suitcase. He'd had it since World War II; it was real rattan.

Real rattan. A jungle vine. Extraordinarily tough, also used to make Malacca canes. That's what these hampers are woven of…and they have the same kind of leather straps and brass hardware as Mr. Kwok's suitcase, too.

Rattan Hamper Set (No. 2274), three hand-woven pieces that fit snugly inside each other, can be employed separately for storage or serve as an unusual coffee or side table.

Dimensions: small: 10" high x 18" wide x 10" deep; medium: 14-1/2" x 24" x 13-1/2"; large: 19" x 30" x 18".

Color: Weathered Natural.

Shipping: $41 add'l.; ships from maker.