Basket

About this object

History of use

Marriage basket.

Physical description

Large woven basket has a relatively short bulbous body (part a), angling sharply in and upwards at the base. The round pedestal foot sits inside the body perimeter, only partially visible in profile. It is decorated with a single ring of cowrie shells. To the basket are attached four strips of hide, each with three rows of cowrie shells attached. The strips are long and thin, holding the lid (part b) to the body of the basket. The lid is round and wide, with an inset lip allowing it to sit snugly on top of the basket body. The lid rises to a high centre protrusion. Body and lid are decorated with dyed dark brown and red zigzags and concentric upsidedown Vs.