Basket Item Number: Nb11.351 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Square, open, straight-sided, sharp-shouldered basket with a square collared rim. Rim is made of two strips of reinforced cedar bark. Base is cedar bark checker work. Natural colour with faded brown and red diamond pattern at mid-point. At rim is band of brown with red. Visible only on the interior are thin bands of purple, yellow and green at the shoulder and base; these have faded to yellowish discolourations on the exterior of the basket. Diagonal 'seam' on the body of the basket, on one side where the diamond pattern is irregularly shaped.
History Of Use
Before European contact Nuu-chah-nulth baskets were predominately undecorated, all-purpose containers. Checkerwork bags and pouches were used for whaling and fishing gear. Finely woven baskets held liquids and were used to boil food by adding heated stones. By the mid-19th century, when missions and trading posts were well established on the Northwest Coast, the manufacture of functional basketry declined and the Nuu-chah-nulth began to make small decorated 'fancy' baskets for sale. These baskets are characterized by realistic and less frequently, geometric designs. Up to the 1890's Nuu-chah-nulth basketry is open wrapped twined, checkerwork and plain twilled. After this date most are close wrapped twined.
Cultural Context
made for sale
Item History
- Made in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada before 1976
- Collected during 1900
- Owned by Dorothy Ladner and Edna Ladner before April 12, 1976
- Received from Dorothy Ladner (Donor) and Edna Ladner (Donor) on April 12, 1976
What
- Name
- Basket
- Identification Number
- Nb11.351
- Type of Item
- basket
- Material
- grass, aniline dye ?, cedar bark and bear grass ?
- Manufacturing Technique
- close wrapped twined, checkerwork, braided and twined
- Overall
- height 5.0 cm, width 8.0 cm, depth 8.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Nuu-chah-nulth
- Previous Owner
- Dorothy Ladner and Edna Ladner
- Received from
- Dorothy Ladner (Donor) and Edna Ladner (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1976
- Collection Date
- during 1900
- Ownership Date
- before April 12, 1976
- Acquisition Date
- on April 12, 1976
Other
- Item Classes
- basketry
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 9
- Accession Number
- 0299/0035