Basket Item Number: K4.153 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Conical basket that has a linear geometric design in black on natural colour, creating an eight petal-like flower design. The foot is of poorer quality than the rest of the basket and of different material, presumably it is not original to the basket.
History Of Use
Woman’s field, or burden, basket (ohumba); used to carry harvested crops and agricultural tools, such as a hoe and pounder. The raised and hollowed base of this basket allows it to be worn on top of the head. Grass weaving is done by both men and women, but baskets are traditionally woven by most women. Angular, particiulary triangular, and ecological motifs are common in Ovimbundu baskets.
Specific Techniques
Basket is made using a coiling process; likely this basket is tilted due to an inconsistency in coil thickness. Dye used in this basket is black. Black dye is made when the leaves of evava are mixed in a solution of iron obtained from stagnant muddy pools. Grasses are placed into the evava-iron solution and boiled to darken. It can be darkened further by boiling the solution again with the addition of pounded ungalo leaves.
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
- Name
- Basket
- Identification Number
- K4.153
- Type of Item
- basket
- Material
- plant fibre and grass
- Manufacturing Technique
- coiled
- Overall
- height 25.0 cm, diameter 22.0 cm
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
- 0251/0115