Basket Item Number: Nb11.252 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Circular basket with flat bottom (a) and flat-topped lid (b); bottom checker work and twining; body and lid wrapped twining; reinforced hoop rim; cedar warp and checker work. Outer running weft is grass, bottom and inner fixed weft is sedge family. Designs on body of basket include two bands of continuous rings of assorted colours. Geometric shapes repeated separately within band. Lid has same type of design in circles on top. Exterior faded; interior shows original orange, yellow, purple, blue and black.

History Of Use

By the 20th century manufacture of utilitarian baskets had declined. The production of decorative baskets, made for sale, had increased markedly. These highly distinctive, finely woven, wrapped twined baskets depicted scenes, such as whaling, and covered a wide variety of commercial containers.