Basket

About this object

Narrative

Diane Anderson purchased the basket from a trade store in El Cerrito, California, in 1989. The sales receipt referred to it as an "antique Thompson River" basket, c. 1870s. Inside the basket is a red "Best of Show" ribbon, from the 'American Indian Western Relic Show and Sale', Pasedena, 1989.

Physical description

Basket with lid. Basket is round, with a wide shoulder that narrows toward a narrower mouth at top, and a smaller base. The exterior is decorated with cherry bark imbrication in a repeating lightning design in alternating bolts of dark and light brown. The interior bottom is imbricated in a butterfly wing design of triangles in three shades of brown bark. The lid (part b) is slightly domed, with an inset lip and is topped with a round handle at centre. Handle is held to the lid by a short length of white rope attached to a small piece of wood on the underside. Lid is similarly decorated with the repeating lightning design.