Basket Item Number: Nb11.341 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Oval basket (a) with flat-topped lid (b). Lid has rim of reinforced cedar bark. Grass twining foundation over three horizontal elements (cedar bark ?). Bottom of basket has rings of open area where two warp strands of grass cross one another. Body and lid of basket also have each, two rings of open areas where pairs of grass warp strands cross natural colour. Body of basket has dark purple band with yellow zigzag design at mid-point. Top of lid has dark purple oval with yellow zigzag design.
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
- Nb11.341 a-b
- Type of Item
- basket
- Material
- bear grass ?, grass, aniline dye ? and cedar bark
- Manufacturing Technique
- wrapped twined, cross warp twined and twined
- Overall
- height 3.5 cm, width 7.0 cm, depth 10.5 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
- good
- Accession Number
- 0299/0020