Storage Basket

Burden basket

Purchased at Tommy's swap shop in Sidney, North Saanich by the collector.

The zigzag designs on the lid may represent snake trails or lightning, while octagon designs were said to represent grave box designs by Haeberlin and Teit, 1928.

Sto:lo basket maker Rosaleen George noted that this basket demonstrates the banneq' technique of decorating. This technique involves folding the designs over and over again. In English this technique is known as imbrication. Rosaleen noted that this basket exhibits extra special work. The grass that was used on this basket was dried in the shade to keep it white. According to Rosaleen if the grass is dried in the sun it will turn yellow.

Rectangular tan basket (part a) of simple interlocking coiled work with bifurcated stitches, and parallel slat base and lid (part b) construction. Indented slat flange on the basket body, and a single splint around the lid. Basket appears to have had handles. Decorated with imbrication and beading. Top of the lid is beaded in connected zigzag pattern in red cherry bark while the sides have checkerboard designs in black-dyed cherry bark. The body of the basket has a series of six figures in black with cat-tail grass interiors. Figures have the appearance of figure-eights with cross like shapes in each. There are two on each side and one on each end.