wapaas (Root-Digging Bag)
About this object
History of use
Narrative
Mary Dodds Schlick notes that: "Archaeologists have found remnants of Indian hemp cordage and textiles in the earliest Columbia River sites. Experts at utilizing the resources at hand, the people also used the bark of hazelnut and willow root, and possibly of other shrubs, as well as tule and cattail for the foundation materials in the soft twined bags (1994:57)." Recently introduced materials such as burlap, flax, cornhusks, yarn, raffia and hemp are now also commonly used.
Iconographic meaning
The designs represent animals, butterflies, and fish. Robin Wright of the Burke Museum notes that: "Stylistic similarities between these basketry designs and prehistoric bone and stone sculpture from the area indicates that this design system had a long prehistoric development among the people of the Columbia River (1991:75)."
Specific techniques
Double strand twining was used to weave this basket.
Physical description
Cylindrical basketry bag with leather sewn to rim. The rim also has leather ties attached on one side and a cotton string looped through the top of the basket on the opposite side. Cotton string is used for the wefts at the base, but a natural fibre is used for the main body of the basket and for the warps. Some of the warps are dyed a dark brown, but most of them are a yellowish brown colour. The body of the basket is completely decorated with designs, in dark brown, which are arranged in vertical columns. Some of them represent butterflies, quadraped animals (dogs ?), fish, and diamonds.
Categories
Materials
Subjects
Date Made
Before 1911
Date Acquired
1952
How Acquired
Donated
Credit Line
Measurements
Overall: 18.9 cm x 15 cm x 11 cm
Object Number
A9366