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This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Oval-shaped basket (a) straight sides, a cedar bark reinforced hoop rim, and a flat-topped, fitted lid (b). Cedar bark plaited base, with three different widths of grass twining. Natural colour with dark purple solid and broken line bands, and two thin yellow bands at basket's mid-point. Set of purple and pink chevron-shaped designs on each side of basket above and below mid-point bands. Ring of purple at shoulder and base. Orange band at base. Lid has concentric ovals of green, yellow, dark purple (solid and broken line) and red around centre of three horizontal lines of red and blue/purple rings. Row of twill twining at base and shoulder of basket, and at edge of lid top.

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

Specific Techniques

Each cedar bark weft on this basket appears to have been split once, and then each resulting weft strand split again.

Item History

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