Accession Number

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Related Collections

Newcombe collections held also at Liverpool Museum

Description

Cylindrical basket of twined woven split spruce roots in horizontal bands with diamond pattern around brim. [MJD 05/05/2009]

Display History

Exhibited in Basketmakers: Meaning and Form in Native American Baskets at PRM (16 June 1992 to May 1993). [? LMM, undated / JC 26 8 2009]

Longer Description

Cylindrical basket of twined woven split spruce roots in horizontal bands with diamond pattern around brim. The roots are from a young spruce, Picea sitchensis. Beneath the diamond pattern around the brim are five horizontal stripes of brown on natural ground. On the underside of the base are short loops of root indicating where additional warp have been added. [CAK 05/08/2009]

Primary Documentation

Accession Book Entry - 'Dr. C. F. NEWCOMBE, Hon. Corresp. Sec. Nat. Hist. Soc. British Columbia. Specimens of native industry from British Columbia, viz:... Basket of split roots of young spruce (Picea Sitchensis) Haida, Queen Charllote Id. 1895. Received through the Director, Roy. Gardens, Kew.

Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card. [CW 9 6 98]

Pitt Rivers Museum label - N. AMERICA, QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLAND; HAIDA. Basket of split roots of young spruce (picea sitchensis) 1895. Pres. by Dr C. F. Newcombe [MJD 05/05/2009]

Related Documents File [Display label] - CANADA - BRITISH COLUMBIA - QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS - HAIDA Twined watertight basket with warp and weft of spruce root. Brown dye obtained by immersing roots in mud. Donated by Dr. C.F. Newcombe. [MJD 05/05/2009]

Related Documents File - The Haida Project Related Documents File contains video of research sessions and interviews with Haida delegates from September 2009 as part of the project ‘Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge'. It also includes post-visit communications that discuss object provenance. For extensive photographic, video, and textual records documenting the Haida research visit as a whole, including but not limited to preparations of objects for handling, travel logistics, British Museum participation, transcribed notes from research sessions and associated public events held at PRM, see the Haida Project Digital Archive, stored with the Accessions Registers. Original hand-written notes taken during research sessions have been accessioned into the Manuscripts collection, in addition to select other materials. [CAK 02/06/2010]

Research Notes

The following information comes from Haida delegates who worked with the museum's collection in September 2009 as part of the project “Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge”:
This basket was viewed alongside other woven materials on Monday Sept 14, 2009. Delegates identified the material as spruce root, and that the basket itself was a small berry picking basket. The pattern on the top rim of the basket was identified as a spider web weave. Delegates discussed how the add-ins on this basket appear on the exterior at the bottom, whereas on a hat they would appear on the interior: in both cases, the location of the add-ins is intended to keep them out of view. However, the number of raised strips visible on the bottom of the basket was commented on, as baskets are usually as well woven on the exterior as the interior, without any ends visible. Delegates did not expect to see the add-ins on the bottom. Kwiaahwah Jones commented that this basket has a double warp and that the pieces protruding slightly from the weaving on the base show where extra warps were added. [CAK 12/05/2010]

Unattributed longer description previously stated "colour obtained by immersing roots in mud". [CAK 05/08/2009]