Basket Item Number: K4.151 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A tiny coiled circular basket. Design consists of six equally spaced diagonal lines in two shades of darker brown on a natural colour background. Tiny dark brown checkered pattern on the natural coloured background around the rim.
History Of Use
Grass weaving is done by both men and women, but baskets are traditionally woven by most women. Checkered patterns are common in Ovimbundu basketry.
Specific Techniques
Dyes used are yellow and dark brown. Yellow dye is made from roots of wild rhubarb (ocilunguluila). The roots are pounded and placed in cold water with the grasses used to create the coils. Afterwards, the mixture is placed in a fire to boil for half an hour, turning the grasses amber-yellow. Brown dye is made from mixing yellow and red dye together. Red dye is made by cooking leaves from an evava plant and boiling them in water with bark of the ukondo tree. After they are sufficiently simmered, they are mixed with ash and buried.
Item History
- Made in Angola
- Collected during 1950
- Owned by Anne E. Copithorne before November 14, 1973
- Received from Anne E. Copithorne (Donor) on November 14, 1973
What
Who
- Culture
- Ovimbundu
- Previous Owner
- Anne E. Copithorne
- Received from
- Anne E. Copithorne (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Angola
When
- Collection Date
- during 1950
- Ownership Date
- before November 14, 1973
- Acquisition Date
- on November 14, 1973
Other
- Item Classes
- basketry
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 100
- Accession Number
- 0251/0113