A basket that produces powder?

Question:My mom bought a small African-style woven basket. What's strange is it produces a fine, yellowish powder that looks like corn starch. We have it on a table and after about a week or so, it sheds about a quarter of a teaspoon of this powdery stuff on our table. So imagine how it would look, if you don't clean it up, having a good amount of suspicious-looking powder on your living room table...

I think she bought it at a flea market or something and has had it for about a year now. We can't figure out why or how it does this. I haven't tasted it the powder (and I don't plan to) and it doesn't seem to be harmful. I've tried google searching, but I'm not even really sure what to search for. So any chance you might know?

Answers:
actually why not just head down to nearest university and take to the chem department...give them something to do and you'll find out what it is for no charge