Basket Item Number: Na1161 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Oblong, brown birch bark basket with an oval-shaped top and a rectangular bottom. Bark is bent and laced into place, with a twig splint around the rim overcast with thin strips of root; decorative bands of dark crabapple bark (?) beading are featured along the rim in several spots. Geometric and linear patterns are scratched onto the exterior sides, revealing a lighter shade of bark.

History Of Use

Basketry filled a vital need as containers for storage domestic use and transportation of goods. Some had multiple uses; others were made for specific functions. After European contact, used for trade and sale items. Forms have been altered to meet European tastes. Basketry making was and is a women's art.

Cultural Context

domestic storage; cooking; transport

Specific Techniques

Birch bark was cut to size, steamed, folded and sewn at corners. Wood rim is lashed with spruce root, outside scraped to decorate.

Item History

What

Name
Basket
Identification Number
Na1161
Type of Item
basket
Material
wood, spruce root, birch bark and crabapple bark ?
Manufacturing Technique
cut, dyed, folded, steamed, scraped, stitched and lashed
Overall
height 11.5 cm, width 33.2 cm, depth 24.0 cm

Who

Culture
Gitxsan ?
Previous Owner
Agnes Macintosh Brentzen, Margaret E. Cornish and E. Percival
Received from
Margaret E. Cornish (Seller), Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) and E. Percival (Seller)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
British Columbia, Canada
Collected in
Port Simpson, British Columbia, Canada and Lax Kw'alaams, British Columbia, Canada

When

Collection Date
between 1887 and 1966
Ownership Date
before November 5, 1987
Acquisition Date
on November 5, 1987

Other

Item Classes
basketry
Condition
fair
Current Location
Case 19
Accession Number
1253/0002