THE THOMPSON INDIANS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. TEIT, JAMES MEMOIRS, 2, 1900

THE THOMPSON INDIANS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. TEIT, JAMES MEMOIRS, 2, 1900

Small, ring-shaped cushion decorated with white cowrie shells. The inside core of the carrier is filled with grass which has then been covered by a heavy blue cotton and stitched tightly together in order to retain the circular shape. On the outside of the carrier there is a repeating quatra-foil pattern made from cowrie shells. The top and bottom edge is trimmed with a circle of cowrie shells sewn end to end. There are two tassels made of folded and sewn blue cotton that are sewn on to the inside of the carrier, each with a single cowrie shell sewn to the end. Around the inside of the carrier there are remnants of a red piece of cloth which has been worn away in several places.

Baby carrier, heavily decorated with beads, shells, claws, etc. all across the front surface. The base is a flat piece of undecorated wood attached to the rounded back piece by fibre strands. The back piece is covered with woven plant fibre in shades of brown, with a large, heavily beaded flap attached at centre, showing animal and plant figures. Across the flap are attached large claws also partially beaded. Large, round, flat shells are attached to the side and top of the back piece with tassels of beads and cowrie shells at the top corners. A beaded band tops the carrier, with small metal decorations hanging from it. The interior of the carrier is covered with red fabric, and two braided fibre straps are attached to the top corners. 19-5-75 is carved into the wooden seat.

Heavily beaded baby carrier. The back piece is made of a thick, flat board of wood, rounded at top, narrowing considerably toward bottom, covered in hide. The front top of the board is beaded with a pattern of flowers of (from top) blue, brown, red and yellow with blue, all attached to green vines with leaves. The background is white beads. The bottom front half of the board is a leather tie-up bag with a canvas collar into which a baby can be placed. Over this is black velvet, beaded with three multicoloured, large flowers connected by a black and white vine. Green scalloped material edges the apron. The back side is red fabric with a blue and yellow flower pattern. On the back of the carrier is a belt attached at both sides.