Basket Item Number: Na1165 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Oval birch bark basket with square base. Body of basket is stitched together at the two ends with spruce root. Stitches seen on both interior and exterior. Decoration is scraped on side. Pattern consists of three stripes bordered by bands having triangles side by side pointing out. The pattern is repeated seven times around body of basket. Rim is of wood lashed to basket walls by spruce root. Four 7 cm sections of rim are decorated with red cedar bark (?) strands woven in plain checker. Between decorated sections, wood is covered with dark brown red cedar bark (?) lashed on with spruce root in "x" patterns; three sections have three "x"s each and the fourth section has four "x"s, two broken.
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
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
- Name
- Basket
- Identification Number
- Na1165
- Type of Item
- basket
- Material
- cedar bark ?, wood, spruce root, birch bark and dye
- Manufacturing Technique
- cut, scraped, folded, lashed, stitched, dyed and steamed
- Overall
- height 16.0 cm, diameter 21.1 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
- good
- Current Location
- Case 19
- Accession Number
- 1253/0006