Basket Item Number: Nd646 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Coiled basket with bifurcated stitches; parallel to watch-spring base construction; partially imbricated. The design consists of a bottom band of three red zigzag lines in phase with each other; horizontal band of bullrush three stitches wide; two rows of animal shapes in red; discrete curved red lines around rim; all on a plain background. Colour: tan.

History Of Use

Burden basket. Tsilhqot’in weavers made coiled cedar-root baskets imbricated with cat-tail grass and cherry bark (for the darker designs). Animals, figures and geometric designs in bands are worked into their sometimes playful designs in bullrush and cherry bark on cedar root. Baskets were used extensively in communities for carrying, storage and cooking and for trade and sale to non-natives. Today baskets continue to be valued in First Nations communities for their cultural importance and continue to be used as gifts, in trade and are made for sale.