Basket

Item number A3422 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Rounded basket with a flat, circular bottom, lid and two handles. Interlocking coiled work (bifurcated stitches), parallel slat base and watch-spring lid construction. Lid has an indented slat flange. Wrapped splint handle on body, and thong ties. Decorated with both beading and imbrication. Lid has beading in two concentric rows (grass and red cherry bark) with imbricated pattern, while the body has a continuous 'wave' pattern which has angular appearance, because of width of stitches (one per slat), interspersed with what looks like small animal figures beaded in red. Double beaded row of grass staggered on bottom row.

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 has grown in recent years.

Iconographic Meaning

Basketmakers from Mt Currie noted (in 1983) that this basket is decorated with animal figures and a wave design.

Cultural Context

Carrying basket; tourist art

Narrative

According to the accession record this basket was made for the British Columbia Arts and Welfare Society on Vancouver Island, and was commissioned from a community on the Island. However, it has since been suggested to be the work of Mrs. Rose Andrew of Squamish by basket makers from Mount Currie (1983), so she has been identified as the possible maker. Homer Barnett suggested (1955) that coiled basketry was not made on the Island prior to contact, but was imported from mainland communities. However, his research was conducted over a short period of time and was not focused upon basketry specifically, but Salish life in general.