Basket Item Number: 3204/17 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Round lidded basket. Basket is woven in narrow strips on the exterior, with wider strips used for the interior lining along with four extra large strips on bottom. Interior and exterior are sewn together with stitching below rim and on bottom. Exterior has undyed leaf woven with dyed leaf in pink, light green, and shades of purple, laying on the diagonal and creating wide sections in each colour. Bottom is a vibrant swirl of these colours. Lid (part b) is constructed in an identical way, with a loop at top centre serving as a handle.
History Of Use
Sewing basket.
Narrative
In 1965 the maker had visited Canada, and visited the donor's parents. During that time his mother commissioned her to make a round basket with a lid. It came in the mail, from Pitcairn Island, in 1966.
Specific Techniques
These baskets are made from leaves from pandanus trees that grow on Pitcairn. The leaves are cut, the prickles on the back rib removed with a knife, the leaves rolled into balls, boiled in water, then dried in the sun or a cool oven. Then they are straightened, rolled again, then loosened and dyed various colours (several leaves at a time). The excess dye water is wiped off and the leaves spread to dry again. The leaves are stripped and woven over wooden moulds into baskets. The dyes used in the 1960s were powder dyes from the UK.
Item History
- Made by Lillian Young (Maker) during 1966
- Owned by Turrall Adcock Moore before October 17, 2016
- Received from Turrall Adcock Moore (Donor) on October 17, 2016
What
- Name
- Basket
- Identification Number
- 3204/17 a-b
- Type of Item
- basket
- Material
- pandanus leaf and dye
- Part A
- height 12.5 cm, diameter 22.0 cm
- Part B
- height 7.0 cm, diameter 22.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Eastern Polynesian
- Creator
- Lillian Young (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Turrall Adcock Moore
- Received from
- Turrall Adcock Moore (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- “Pitcairn Island” ?
When
- Creation Date
- during 1966
- Ownership Date
- before October 17, 2016
- Acquisition Date
- on October 17, 2016
Other
- Item Classes
- basketry
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 3204/0017 a-b