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Cultural Context

basketry

Narrative

Dr. Raley's collection catalogue lists this basket as a Squamish basket with a rainbow design, made by Mary, aged 83.

History Of Use

Coiled basketry traditionally had many uses. It was used for storage of foods, medicines and personal belongings. Some baskets were used for cooking and boiling water, while others had more private uses. Haeberlin and Teit (1928) suggest that in the past not all women were basket makers, but that the skill became more widespread during the early and middle twentieth century when basketry was highly collectible and it became a source of income for many local First Nations women. Basket making declined after the 1950s, but it is still present in many Coast Salish communities and interest is growing.

Iconographic Meaning

Possibly a rainbow design.

Description

Part (a) Large flared round coiled cedar root basket with indented flange on basket body at narrow mouth, and fitted lid, part (b), with knob. Basket is partially imbricated with repeating diagonal in dark and red cherry bark, with grass in between. Overcast splint rim on lid, wide slat foot. Partially imbricated with curved diagonal bands in red cherry bark, grass, black cherry bark. Beaded row of red cherry bark and row of dark cherry bark towards knob, which also has row of each. Side of lid is beaded intermittently alternating between red and dark cherry bark. Bottom row of red cherry bark beading.