Basket Item Number: 3664/1 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Small, round, lidded basket with frog designs. Basket has inset rim and fitted lid (part b). Basket is made of tightly woven grass with cedar bark rim and base; lid made solely of grass. Dyed grey-green lines border bottom edges of basket and the lid rim; faded frog designs on basket sides and lid surface. All frogs have their front legs stretched forward and back legs bent at their sides; two small natural spots in centre of faces, imitating eyes. Frogs on basket are facing top; frogs on lid facing outer edge. Lid has a central knob handle decorated with a grey-green checked design. All dyed designs are dark purple on the interior surfaces.

Specific Techniques

According to J. Harris (appraiser), the coloured frog motifs would have been coloured with salal berry dye, which fades in the same manner that these have faded.

Narrative

The donor inherited the basket from her grandparents, Eleanor and Alexander Stirling Ross, who were residents of Vancouver in the early 20th century, and had collected baskets from various coastal communities in BC. Hurd's mother graduated from UBC in 1934, and two grandchildren graduated UBC in 2023-24, so she wanted to donate the basket to MOA, in honour of the three UBC graduates.

Item History

What

Name
Basket
Identification Number
3664/1 a-b
Type of Item
basket
Material
grass, cedar bark and dye
Overall
height 5.7 cm, diameter 6.6 cm

Who

Culture
Nuu-chah-nulth
Previous Owner
Ann W. Hurd
Received from
Ann W. Hurd (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
between 1900 and 1940
Ownership Date
before May 29, 2024
Acquisition Date
on May 29, 2024

Other

Item Classes
basketry
Condition
good
Accession Number
3664/0001 a-b