Basket Item Number: Nb11.344 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Oval basket (a) with raised, fitted lid (b). Lid has reinforced cedar bark hoop at rim. Opening of basket is larger in some places than the lid, so it does not fit well. Bottom of basket has a single element, cedar bark foundation, overstitched with grass, surrounded by grass twining. Natural colour. Wide faded purple band with faded yellow geometric 'step' design at midpoint of basket. Ring of faded purple at base of basket. Centre of lid has red oval ring with green design, surrounded by wide faded purple band and yellow geometric 'step' design. Thin purple ring at rim of lid.
History Of Use
Before European contact Nuu-chah-nulth baskets were predominately undecorated, all-purpose containers. Checkerwork bags and pouches were used for whaling and fishing gear. Finely woven baskets held liquids and were used to boil food by adding heated stones. By the mid-19th century, when missions and trading posts were well established on the Northwest Coast, the manufacture of functional basketry declined and the Nuu-chah-nulth began to make small decorated 'fancy' baskets for sale. These baskets are characterized by realistic and less frequently, geometric designs. Up to the 1890's Nuu-chah-nulth basketry is open wrapped twined, checkerwork and plain twilled. After this date most are close wrapped twined.
Cultural Context
made for sale
Item History
- Made in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada before 1976
- Collected during 1900
- Owned by Dorothy Ladner and Edna Ladner before April 12, 1976
- Received from Dorothy Ladner (Donor) and Edna Ladner (Donor) on April 12, 1976
What
- Name
- Basket
- Identification Number
- Nb11.344 a-b
- Type of Item
- basket
- Material
- grass, aniline dye ?, cedar bark and bear grass ?
- Manufacturing Technique
- wrapped twined, twined and overstitched
- Overall
- height 2.4 in, width 3.5 in, depth 5.315 in
Who
- Culture
- Nuu-chah-nulth
- Previous Owner
- Dorothy Ladner and Edna Ladner
- Received from
- Dorothy Ladner (Donor) and Edna Ladner (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1976
- Collection Date
- during 1900
- Ownership Date
- before April 12, 1976
- Acquisition Date
- on April 12, 1976
Other
- Item Classes
- basketry
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0299/0023