Baby Carrier Item Number: A6952 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Coiled cedar root baby cradle with slat foundations and simple interlocking coiled work. Overcast rim with additional loopwork at the head. Rim is beaded in black cherry bark (3:1), over/under. Body of cradle has first two rows beaded in white grass. Five rows per slat with butterfly pattern in red and black cherry bark over the rest. One side is slightly different from the other.
History Of Use
Basketry cradles are thought to be of relatively recent origin by some basketry experts, such as Andrea Laforet of the Canadian Museum of Civilization. They may first have appeared in the late 1800s or early 1900s. In the early to mid 20th Century basket makers began expanding their reportoire of shapes and styles for collectors, and many new forms were seen including tea cups, tables, suitcases, and hand bags to name a few.
Iconographic Meaning
Butterfly design. According to Sto:lo weaver Frieda George the butterfly symbolizes everlasting life.
Cultural Context
children; basketry
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada between 1900 and 1904
- Collected in Squamish, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Florence Fyfe-Smith before 1951
- Received from Florence Fyfe-Smith (Donor) during 1951
What
- Name
- Baby Carrier
- Identification Number
- A6952
- Type of Item
- carrier
- Material
- cedar root, wood, grass, dye and cherry bark
- Manufacturing Technique
- imbricated, coiled and dyed
- Overall
- height 12.7 cm, width 20.3 cm, depth 47.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Coast Salish: Squamish
- Previous Owner
- Florence Fyfe-Smith
- Received from
- Florence Fyfe-Smith (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Squamish, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- between 1900 and 1904
- Ownership Date
- before 1951
- Acquisition Date
- during 1951
Other
- Item Classes
- basketry
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 4