Basket Item Number: Nd610 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Coiled basket with bifurcated stitches; parallel splint base construction; rim is overcast in bird quill. The design consists of sets of vertical zigzag lines with seven horizontal lines crossing them; horizontal zigzag around rim; three natural colours of quill on rim. Four rawhide loops covered in cedar root. Colours: red, 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.