Lunch Basket Item Number: A1839 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Rectangular basket with simple interlocking coiled work, bifurcated stitches, parallel slat lid and base construction with graduated reinforcement stitches and 'twilled' effect on lid. Basket also has a two coiled handles and is decorated with beading. The lid has beading in black-dyed cherry bark in a 2:1 ratio along the circumference of the lid. The body has cat-tail grass at the top (one row per slat, in a 2:2 ratio). Three other slats have beaded decoration (3 rows per slat) in black and in red cherry bark in a 2:2 ratio creating a checkerboard pattern. Lid is attached to basket with thong hinges.
History Of Use
Sto:lo Elder Elizabeth Herrling and Nlaka'pamux Elder Minnie Peters suggest that this basket was used as a cooler or lunch basket. The unusual stitching of the lid would allow air ventilation.
Specific Techniques
According to Sto:lo basket maker and weaver, Wendy Ritchie, the lid on this basket exhibits a technique commonly used by the Sto:lo when weaving the swoqw'elh or goat hair blankets. It is a technique that signifies a change in the pattern. It is done on this basket by sewing the coils around two rather than one row to create a distinctive pattern. It creates the pattern on this basket, but on basket A4308 it acts a divider between the different coloured elements on the lid. Wendy also noted that the corners on this basket have been reinforced with cherry bark.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1934
- Collected in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada between 1893 and 1934
- Owned by George H. Raley before November 1948
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and George H. Raley (Seller) during November 1948
What
- Name
- Lunch Basket
- Identification Number
- A1839
- Type of Item
- basket
- Material
- cedar root, cherry bark, fibre and cat-tail grass ?
- Manufacturing Technique
- coiled and imbricated
- Overall
- height 16.5 cm, width 37.5 cm, depth 17.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Coast Salish: Sto:lo
- Previous Owner
- George H. Raley
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and George H. Raley (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Chilliwack, 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
- Accession Number
- 1960/0214