Basket

About this object

History of use

Basketry filled a vital need as containers for storage, domestic use and transportation of goods. Some had multiple uses; others were made for specific functions. After European contact baskets often used in trade and as sale items. Forms may have been altered to meet European tastes.

Cultural context

domestic storage; transport

Specific techniques

Birchbark was cut to size, steamed, folded and sewn at four corners. Rim is lashed with spruce root, exterior scraped to decorate.

Physical description

Oval birch bark basket that tapers to a square base. Basket is formed from one piece of birch bark and is stitched at both ends. Reinforced wood rim is lashed to body of basket with spruce root--small segments of spruce roots are dyed red. Sides are decorated with a scraped vegetal design of four plants, with crosshatching on one end and the base left undecorated.