Storage Basket Item Number: A1976 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Brown basket (part a) and lid (part b) with interlocking coiled work, bifurcated stitches. Sides (part a) have eight vertical designs (three each on the long sides and two each on the ends) in red cherry bark with white grass. Design consists of a black/white centre of a vertical row of diamond shapes with the same in red at either end. Smae black/white centre at the ends. The basket has a foot that is beaded with large strips of red cherry bark. There is some beading on the lid (part b), but most of the beading has been lost. Parallel slat base and lid and a foot composed of a 1" slat.
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
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1934
- Collected between 1893 and 1934
- Owned by George Henry Raley before November 1948
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and George Henry Raley (Seller) during November 1948
What
- Name
- Storage Basket
- Identification Number
- A1976
- Type of Item
- basket
- Material
- cedar root, cherry bark and canary grass
- Manufacturing Technique
- coiled and imbricated
- Overall
- height 33.5 cm, width 58.0 cm, depth 35.0 cm
- Part A
- height 33.0 cm, width 58.0 cm, depth 35.0 cm
- Part B
- height 3.3 cm, width 55.0 cm, depth 32.8 cm
Who
- Culture
- Coast Salish: Sto:lo
- Previous Owner
- George Henry Raley
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and George Henry Raley (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1934
- Collection Date
- between 1893 and 1934
- Ownership Date
- before November 1948
- Acquisition Date
- during November 1948
Other
- Item Classes
- basketry
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 29
- Accession Number
- 1960/0259