Basket Item Number: K4.339 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

A coiled circular basket with the sides flaring upward. Design consists of a twelve equally spaced medium coloured brown inverted partial v-shapes. Rim of basket has medium brown dots forming slanted lines.

History Of Use

Flat tray-like baskets (ongalo) are used for winnowing maize, as well as serving food. Grass weaving is done by both men and women, but baskets are traditionally woven by most women. Geometric patterns are common in Ovimbundu basketry and certain designs have names with meanings. In some cases, geometric designs are used to indicate a standard of capacity within the basket.

Specific Techniques

The dye used in this basket is red-brown. To create brown dye, yellow and red dye are mixed together; shade of brown determined by ratio of red and yellow dyes. 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. 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

What

Name
Basket
Identification Number
K4.339
Type of Item
basket
Material
plant fibre
Manufacturing Technique
coiled
Overall
height 6.1 cm, diameter 17.2 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
Accession Number
0251/0068