Basket Item Number: A17096 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Large, elongated rectangular coiled basket (bifurcated stitches) with double looped border, coiled handle attached with rawhide, and rope handle. Parallel slat base and body construction reinforced with stitches at edges. Fully imbricated in cat-tail grass (?) with design on long sides of five deep 'v's in black cherry bark, three filled in with red cherry bark; and on short sides, a 'v' shape "cluster of flies" beside an inverted v, all in red cherry bark. Rim has intervals of two black cherry bark stitches.

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.

Cultural Context

basketry; storage; plant technology

Item History

What

Name
Basket
Identification Number
A17096
Type of Item
basket
Material
cedar root, deer skin ?, cherry bark, cat-tail grass ?, fibre and dye
Manufacturing Technique
coiled and imbricated
Overall
height 14.5 cm, width 41.2 cm, depth 27.0 cm

Who

Culture
Coast Salish: Squamish
Previous Owner
Ruth M. Jones and Soroptomist Club of Vancouver
Received from
Soroptomist Club of Vancouver (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
British Columbia, Canada
Collected in
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

When

Ownership Date
before 1970 and before August 1972
Acquisition Date
during August 1972

Other

Item Classes
basketry
Condition
good
Current Location
Case 4
Accession Number
0208/0013