Basket Item Number: A2433 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Small urn shaped coiled basket (bifurcated stitches) with foot and lid (part b). Watch-spring base and lid construction. Imbricated design of large checkerboard diamond shapes in red bark and grass and black bark and grass. Lid has three small checkerboard triangles around rim in same colour configuration, with another row above of checkerboard triangles. Foot is beaded with grass in two rows.
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 is growing.
Cultural Context
basketry; storage
Iconographic Meaning
This basket features diamond designs, a motif used frequently by the Nlaka'pamux.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1934
- Collected in Cultus Lake, British Columbia, Canada ? between 1893 and 1934
- Owned by George Henry Raley before November 1948
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and George Henry Raley (Seller) during November 1948
What
- Name
- Basket
- Identification Number
- A2433 a-b
- Type of Item
- basket
- Material
- cedar root, cherry bark, cat-tail grass ? and dye
- Manufacturing Technique
- coiled and imbricated
- Part A
- height 9.5 cm, diameter 14.0 cm
- Part B
- height 2.5 cm, diameter 11.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Coast Salish ?
- Previous Owner
- George Henry Raley
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and George Henry Raley (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Cultus Lake, British Columbia, Canada ?
When
- Creation Date
- before 1934
- Collection Date
- between 1893 and 1934
- Ownership Date
- before November 1948
- Acquisition Date
- during November 1948
Other
- Item Classes
- basketry
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 29
- Accession Number
- 1960/0339 a-b