Baby Carrier Item Number: D1.78 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Coiled cedar root basketry cradle with simple interlocking coiled work. Parallel slat base. Decorated with both beading and imbricated designs in red and black with the upper four slats being full and the lower three slats having an X pattern.

History Of Use

Basketry cradles are thought to be of relatively recent origin by some basketry experts, such as Andrea Laforet of the Canadian Museum of Civilization. They may first have appeared in the late 1800s or early 1900s. In the early to mid 20th Century basket makers began expanding their reportoire of shapes and styles for collectors, and many new forms were seen including tea cups, tables, suitcases, and hand bags to name a few.

Cultural Context

basketry; children

Iconographic Meaning

This cradle features a cloud design according to the collector's catalogue.