Basket Item Number: Na1164 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Oval, birch bark basket with squared bottom. Body of basket stitched together at two points with spruce root. Decoration is scraped into bark. Rim reinforced with wood and lashed to body with spruce root, and four pieces of fabric. Two pieces are blue (4 cm and 4.4 cm long) and two are red (4 cm and 4.2 cm long). Fabric is secured by crossed pieces of spruce root on each end. Beneath lashing on rim are remains of pink and purple yarn (?). There are two bands of decoration, about two cm apart, scraped into bark of body. Each band consists of three thin lines. Top lines in both bands have triangles side by side, bases about 1.2 cm - 1.5 cm apart, pointing up. Bottom lines have triangles pointing down. Centre lines have no pattern on them.
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.
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.
Cultural Context
domestic storage; cooking; transport
Narrative
Design on basket suggests a Gitxsan maker.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in Port Simpson, British Columbia, Canada and Lax Kw'alaams, British Columbia, Canada between 1887 and 1966
- Owned by Agnes Macintosh Brentzen
- Owned by Margaret E. Cornish and E. Percival before November 5, 1987
- Received from Margaret E. Cornish (Seller), Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) and E. Percival (Seller) on November 5, 1987
What
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
- good
- Current Location
- Case 19
- Accession Number
- 1253/0005