First Nations Woven Baskets (Pearson Collection) at salishan Place by the River

Thunderbird or Eagle Basket

Catalogue Number

Design Description

Thunderbirds, eagles, or birds, wings folded down, alternating red and black, two lines per bird outline; on length sides: two rows of four birds, one row above the other. On width sides: two rows of two birds, one above the other. Each bird head is looking in the opposite direction of the ones adjoining and beside them.

Length

Approximately 12 inches or 30.28 cm

Width

Approximately 6 inches or 15 cm

Height

Approximately 12 inches or 30.28 cm

Shape and Use

General storage; rectangular and deep, flared from bottom to top. Not an apparent "burden" or "berry basket," as it has no handles, handle holes, or tumpline attachments. Good condition; no apparent use or disuse.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry, natural red and dyed Black.

Culture

N'laka'pamux, specifically North Bend.

History

This basket is not part of the Pearson Collection, it was examined in the first phase of this project because it appears in the James basket photos.

It was donated on June 15, 1959, by Ms. Eileen H. Beaumont. The description provided by the donor was as follows:

"This basket, about whose origin I know nothing, was used as an exhibit in a murder trial at Merritt over thirty years ago. When the office was moved a number of articles were burned and this was rescued by a bystander who recognized its value."

John Haugen feels that this may have been the Sterling murder trial, but more research must be done to confirm this. In any case, this basket is definitely a James basket, as it is featured in all of the James basket photos of 1938.

Notes

This basket was brought to my attention during my analysis of the Pearson Collection. It had been identified as one of the baskets in the James photos. There are five known James basket photos.

John Haugen is the lands coordinator for Lytton First Nations; he also works with community elders in recording history; and has a special interest in Fraser Canyon basketry.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.01

Design Description

Necklace design; strings are one line of red imbrication; beads are two rows of five black and white sections, alternating in a checkerboard pattern. Each necklace has three sections of beads on the length side, and two in each width side. Each necklace also has, at each basket corner, a small bead series of six sections, alternating black and white. There are eight necklaces top to bottom.

Length

39 cm

Width

64 cm

Height

37.5 cm

Shape and Use

Burden or "berry basket;" rectangular and deep; flared from bottom to top. One hide handle on each width-side near top. Good condition; no apparent use or disuse.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry, naturally red, dyed black; bear grass, sun-bleached white, deer hide.

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.02

Design Description

Although this design has, for convenience, been termed laddered arrows, it is much harder to define because of the wing-like protuberances on the sides of the arrow shapes. If they are arrows, they are pointing down, while the wings would appear to face upward.

Length

-

Width

35 cm at handle

Height

26 cm

Shape and Use

Round and deep; nut shape with flat lid; small handle on basket; small knob handle on lid, both of basketry; good condition, no apparent use or disuse.

Weave

Coiled bundled, imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry, naturally red, dyed black; bear grass (sun-bleached white).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.03

Design Description

A series of diamond outer shapes with crosses inside; three along each length side, and one on each end or width side. The colours alternate; a red cross inside a red diamond with white fill, then a black cross inside a black diamond, with white fill.

Length

31 cm

Width

52 cm

Height

17.5 cm

Shape and Use

Most likely a "carrying" or "shopping basket." Rectangular and relatively shallow with four small handle holes, one near each corner positioned on the length sides. Too shallow for a tumpline, it was likely designed to be carried by hand with longer handles, similar to a purse. Good condition; no apparent use or disuse.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated; bottom is made of slats.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry, naturally red, dyed black; bear grass, sun-bleached white.

Culture

N'laka'pamux or its immediate influence, most likely Lower Fraser Canyon but possibly, because of the larger weave and the use of cedar slats, as far south as the mouth of the Fraser River. See note below.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Notes

This could include any of the following aboriginal peoples of the Lower Fraser River, such as the Tait (Yale), Musqueam, Tsawwassen, Kwantlen, Katzie, or any of the Chilliwack groups known collectively as the Sto:lo Nation. Many of these peoples are thought to have been influenced by the N'laka’pamux weavers.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.04

Design Description

Series of arrows in ladders, superimposed by a white line. Each arrow in the series alternates between black and red. Each ladder points in the opposite direction (up and down) of the ones next to it. There are four ladders on each length side, and one on each end or width side. One corner has a series of three diamonds, which may be a signature, since none of the other three corners have this feature. The diamonds dangle from the top edge; the interiors are white, while the outlines alternate red and black.

Length

23 cm

Width

33 cm

Height

16 cm

Shape and Use

Storage; rectangular and deep;, flared from bottom to top. Good condition; no apparent use or disuse.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry, naturally red, dyed black; bear grass, sun-bleached white.

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.05

Design Description

Series of winged figures; each figure has red on top and black on bottom; basket has eight rows of three descending figures each; lid has seven figures dispersed around the outer edges, with wings facing opposite direction of basket figures. All rows are evenly positioned around the circumference of the basket.

Length

-

Width

26 cm

Height

17 cm

Shape and Use

Round and deep; nut shape with flat lid; missing a handle; good condition; no apparent use or disuse.

Weave

Coiled bundled, imbricated; two coils are slightly raised and show bundles inside; showing between 5-8 strips.

Materials

Cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry, naturally red, dyed black.

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.06

Design Description

Circles or rounded diamonds, checkered red and black

Length

-

Width

18.5 cm at top

Height

8.5 cm

Shape and Use

Round and relatively shallow bowl; good condition, no apparent use or disuse

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry, naturally red but dyed black

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.07

Design Description

Bowl has diagonal lines from bottom to top, each consisting of one strip of red, white and black; foot has coils with black beads alternating with plain.

Length

-

Width

19 cm

Height

8.75 cm

Shape and Use

Small bowl with two-coil foot, and handles of one coil; good condition, no apparent use or disuse

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated. Foot is imbricated two coils.

Materials

Split Cedar Root; Inner Bark of the Chokecherry - Natural Red, Treated Dyed Black. Bear Grass, sun-bleached white

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely Boston Bar if by Emma Florence; or North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Design Description

Outer circle consists of three solid rings: red, then black, then red; inner circle has three rings consisting of the same colours, but these are beaded, not solid; imbrication alternates as one imbrication, one bare, and so on; bottom is plain; black beaded imbrication around outside of rim.

Length

-

Width

19 cm

Height

7 cm

Shape and Use

"Serving tray" with two handles on opposite sides. Tray is semi-deep with a rounded bottom; handles are two coils thick; good condition; no apparent use or disuse.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; Collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Design Description

Thick cross with squares in the middle; cross is quartered, split between black and red, with a small black square in the middle surrounded by a larger white square. each side of the basket has one cross design per side.

Length

-

Width

36 cm

Height

9 cm

Shape and Use

Tray/bowl is diamond-shaped and semi-shallow with a flat bottom; entire top edge has looping; good condition; no apparent use or disuse.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated; bottom is made of cedar slats.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, but dyed black; bear grass, (sun-bleached white).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon; or because of slat bottom, possibly N'laka'pamux influence on the lower Fraser River peoples.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.10

Design Description

Tray has sets of trees, two per line, with treetops pointing in towards the centre of the tray. Trees alternate in colour between red and white, and black and white. Each tree line faces one of an opposite colour. Four lines of trees run along each length side of the basket, while one line of trees runs along each width side. Each corner of the tray has one tree, not two; plain bottom.

Length

34.5 cm

Width

49 cm

Height

4.44 cm

Shape and Use

Oblong shallow tray with flattened rim; flat bottom; no handles; good condition; no apparent use or disuse.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry, naturally red, but dyed black; bear grass (sun-bleached white).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Design Description

Small bowl has design similar to succeeding waves, or else a series of head shapes in a marching formation. Waves or heads face left, and are outlined with one top line of solid black, shadowed with one bottom line of solid red; eight stars on the inside bottom, alternating black & red, with white centres.

Length

-

Width

27 cm

Height

24 cm

Shape and Use

"Carrying" or "storage" basket; semi-deep bowl with a high-arching stiff handle, which splits off near the bowl's rim; good condition; no apparent use or disuse.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated; braided weave on top rim.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; Collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.12

Design Description

Horizontal lines of various colours

Length

12.5 cm

Width

39 cm

Height

24 cm

Shape and Use

"Shopping basket" with macramé-type woven handles. According to Mrs. Freeman, she is the one who added the woven handles. Good condition; no apparent use or disuse.

Weave

Cedar slat base, coiled over with cedar root strips; base (bottom half) composed of solidly woven cedar slats; upper half of basket is a semi-open weave of cedar slats coiled over with cedar root; and an open weave of cedar strips between the slats; rim is bundled coils of cedar root; using two separate methods; rim itself uses three coils of bundled cedar root, while a W-shaped, coiled open weave is used up most of the basket; handles are short and heavy, of a macramé-type of weave, using some type of tan cotton string or bleached hemp, fibre, or possibly wool.

Materials

Split cedar root; split cedar slats; dyed grasses; fibre cord (possibly hemp, wool, or other fibres).

Culture

Possibly N'laka'pamux, but most likely Coast Salish, using coiling techniques learned from the N'laka'pamux.

History

Used by Mrs. Freemanin for shopping in Vancouver . Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Design Description

Appears to be of Chilcotin or Lillooet design; a thin bowl with zig-zag motifs woven in; rim has pairs of square designs along it below the edge; colours used are: white and lavender for the rim squares, and combinations of white and aqua, black and pale yellow, and red and green for the zig-zags.

Length

-

Width

23.5 cm

Height

15.5 cm

Shape and Use

Medium-sized bowl.

Weave

Thinner weave; imbricated.

Materials

Root or thick grass; dyed grasses.

Culture

Chilcotin or Lillooet.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Design Description

Basket has three distinct James-style flowers. The top two are joined by tendrils to the bottom one. Each flower has eight petals, or four double petals. Each double petal has one tendril leading from its centremost point, plus each outermost (to the basket) has one tendril leading out from it. The top left flower is red and white, with five tendrils extending from it. Each tendril contains a white spot inside the bud point; all tendrils are red except the bottom tendril furthest left, which is black.

The top right flower is black and white with five tendrils extending from it. Each tendril contains a white spoit inside its bud point; all tendrils are black except the middle tendril on the bottom which is red. Each of the top two flowers has a bottom tendril which connects to a black and white flower with no tendrils at the bottom of the basket.

Each end of basket has two red and white flowers, one above the other; each bottom flower has two tendrils, one black (right), and one red (left). Tendrils at the ends of the basket have no white spoit inside their bud points.

Length

35 cm

Width

50.5 cm

Height

32.5 cm

Shape and Use

General storage; rectangular and deep; flared from bottom to top; does not appear to a "burden" or "berry basket," as it has no handles, handle holes, or tumpline attachments.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry, (naturally red; dyed black); bear grass (sun-bleached white).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, North Bend.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Notes:

This is the basket which began the whole chain of events that led to this project. It is the one that former curator Lisa Codd first spotted in the Mary Ann James photo in 2004.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.15

Design Description

Series of horizontal lines.

Length

11 cm

Width

31 cm

Height

18 cm

Shape and Use

"Shopping basket" with woven handles; rectangular and deep; handle is braided grass or cedar bark.

Weave

Twined weave.

Materials

Root or thick grass, dyed grasses, possible (cedar or other) bark and dyed bark; inner bark of cedar.

Culture

Unknown, probably Chilcotin, Lillooet or West Coast.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; Collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.16

Design Description

Birds or thunderbirds or perhaps loons; series of simply wrought yet striking bird designs. Each bird consists of a black outline, with triangular wings, pointed downward; black shoulder line extends outwards from the black head horizontally, then black outline of wings extends downward at a right angle vertically; inner outlines of wings then become red, rising diagonally to meet beneath head under horizontal shoulder line; inner fill of wings is white. There are six sets of birds, one above the other, for a total of twelve birds.

Length

-

Width

19 cm

Height

12 cm

Shape and Use

Bowl with foot.

Weave

Coiled bundled, imbricated; foot consists of two coils.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black); bear grass (sun-bleached white).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.17

Design Description

Tray inside bottom design begins from centre, with a circle of black, outlined with a circle of red; design then radiates outward like a sunburst, as a series of W’s but with curved lines instead of straight lines; inner ray has three outlines that radiate as black, then red, then black. nine points on inside burst, seventeen on outside; outer sunburst is the same, radiating as black, red, and black; inner and outer rims of tray have a series of diamond shapes of red and black; top edge of rim is imbricated in red; plain outside and bottom.

Length

38 cm

Width

46.5 cm

Height

7.5 cm

Shape and Use

"Serving tray" with handles; flat bottom; circular shape.

Weave

Coiled bundled, imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.18

Design Description

Tray inside bottom design begins from centre, with a circle of red; seventh and eighth coils from centre are imbricated in alternating spaces. Tray has arrow shapes with flat bases, or very simplified tree shapes with flat bases. Each arrow alternates between black and red, pointing inward towards centre, with a fill of white inside each arrow. There are ten arrows in the inner circle, and ten in the outer circle, all pointing in; inner and outer rim are imbricated with chevron shapes, some of black and white, some of red and white; no imbrication on rim or handles of basket; plain outside.

Length

-

Width

39 cm

Height

6.5 cm

Shape and Use

"Serving Tray" with handles; flat bottom.

Weave

Coiled bundled, imbricated; some type of a braided stitch on rim; handles made by raising top two coils; large coils on basket.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black; bear grass (sun-bleached white).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.19

Design Description

Arrows: eight around the top, seven around the middle, eight around the bottom. Design is simple, made of three lines each, with each arrow alternating from black to red; point of heart has one red arrow at its edge, then three sets along each long side, alternating black and red. Each set is one above the other, resulting in five or six arrows per side of the heart.

Length

24 cm

Width

23 cm

Height

11.5 cm

Shape and Use

Arrow-shaped bowl with looping along edges; rounded bottom; has string hanging from top centre of heart at rim (for hanging? pouring?).

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.20

Design Description

Arrowheads pointing outwards, radiating from the centre of trivet; arrows alternate in red and black; six in total.

Length

-

Width

16.2 cm

Height

1 cm

Shape and Use

Trivet, used as a coaster or hot pot mat.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black).

Culture

N'laka'pamux from Spuzzum, and later Yale.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.21

Design Description

Three concentric circles of arrowheads pointing outward from the center of the basket; inner circle is composed of four black arrowheads; a second ring of ten red arrowheads encircle these, and are themselves encircled by a final ring of eighteen black arrowheads; outside perimeter of the tray also has twenty-two arrowheads, alternating red and black.

Length

-

Width

49.5 cm

Height

6.5 cm

Shape and Use

"Serving tray" with handles, and looping around top edge; flat bottomed; circular in shape.

Weave

Coiled bundled;, imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root: inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor - Mrs. Aida Freeman; Collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell. See Freeman-Southwell-Pearson history note at top and bottom.

Notes:

Outer arrows need to be counted.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.22

Large red zig-zags along top and bottom edges, with four red diamonds circling the middle-section of the basket; two front and back, and one each between the two handles.

Length

-

Width

30 cm

Height

27 cm

Shape and Use

Vase-shaped jar, conical or flared outward from bottom to top; probably used for storage; handles are large and curved, attached from near top to two thirds of way toward bottom; one on each side.

Weave

Coiled bundled, and coiled over cedar slats; imbricated; bottom made of cedar slats.

Materials

Split cedar root; cedar slats; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black).

Culture

Possibly N'laka'pamux, but most likely Coast Salish (downriver Fraser tribes), possibly using techniques learned from the upriver N'laka'pamux.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.23

Main design: Referred to as a "Guichon" design due to Teit’s Coiled Basketry of British Columbia and Surrounding Region (1); Guichon is composed of an intricate interlocking geometric design; base is a square standing on its bottom point; overlaid by a square standing on its flat base. Both are overlaid by an interlocking weave design, somewhat similar to the knotted weave on a Celtic Cross; colours are red, white and black. The outer base square is checkered in the way that some of the chevrons on other baskets are made; each corner begins with a black tip and outline, followed with white, and then red. The inner square is made of bands of three colours; the first band is outlined in black, with a centre band of white and an inner band of red. The interlocking weave is composed of four ribbons, each of which has black on the outer edge, white in the middle and red on the inside.

Outer edges and lid designs: Bottom of the basket on top of the foot has a beaded design composed of alternating colours (red, white, black, white, red, white, etc.); top edge of the basket below the rim has a zig-zag design composed of three bands of different colours: red on the bottom, white in the middle and black on top.

The lid of basket has a similar zig-zag design composed of two lines (which are slightly curved rather than straight), one inside the other, radiating outward from the centre; outer rim has a double-beaded design similar to the foot, except that each bead is offset by one space to the one of the same colour adjoining it.

Length

34 cm

Width

34.5 cm

Height

23.5 cm

Shape and Use

Square box shape, medium depth; flat lid with a small handle in the centre; basket was likely used for storage or carrying light objects (similar to a picnic basket).

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated. Handles are made of bundled coils.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black); bear grass (sun-bleached white); deer hide top and small handles are coiled—could be the same for large handles, which are attached with hide.

Culture

N'laka'pamux, possibly from the Merritt/Nicola area

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother, Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Notes:

Boas, Franz, ed., Haeberlin, H.K., Teit, James, Roberts, Helen. "Coiled Basketry in British Columbia and Surrounding Region." Forty-first Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology, 1919-1924, Washington, DC 1928, pp. 119-484.

Back to table

Design Description

Series of occasional small stars or crosses; stars composed of alternating colours: either a red centre with black rays or a black centre and red rays; plain inside.

Length

27 cm

Width

27 cm

Height

24.5 cm

Shape and Use

Bowl shape with an open weave; composed of an alternating pattern of four straight coils which connect to a single row of W-shaped coils; bowl has a curved bottom.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother, Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Notes:

See detailed conservation treatment on this artefact

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.25

Design Description

Very large connecting diamonds, one row of full diamonds above and one of diamond halves below, all around the basket. Diamonds are joined at each point including the top with the bottom. Diamonds are composed of three lines; red in the centre, surrounded on either side by black outlines.

Length

27 cm

Width

27 cm

Height

35.5 cm

Shape and Use

This would normally be referred to as a "nut shape"; its large size is reminiscent of an ancient storage jar, and certainly this was its purpose. Indeed, with its tight weave it would have been capable of storing water, though there is no evidence that it was used for this purpose; lid is fitted, having a deep inner lip for a secure closure; lid handle is a rounded knob of coiled cedar root in centre; handles are of sturdy hide, but are not attached in a manner which would support heavy loads.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black); cured hide (probably deer hide).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother, Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Notes:

Bottom is coiled.

Back to table

Length

-

Width

8.5 cm

Height

5 cm

Shape and Use

Small bowl with foot; foot is one coil; basket itself is composed of eight coils; very likely used for snacks like nuts or candy.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother, Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Design Description

What appears to be two whales is shown on the outside and the inside of the basket; one is green and one is red. Both whales are split apart by a jagged line, almost like a thunderbolt. The line is just blank space; no imbrication. There are two whales on each side of the basket. The lid has a crescent-shaped line around the centre on one side of it, and two star-shapes opposite the crescent.

Length

-

Width

9.3 cm

Height

6.2 cm

Shape and Use

This is a very small bowl, and we are not familiar with its use on the West Coast of British Columbia. It was likely used to store small treasures or tidbits. It has a lid that is fitted with sides to cover the outside lip.

Weave

West Coast weaving; bottom square weave.

Materials

Natural grass; dyed grasses

Culture

West Coast.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Notes:

Likely a gift brought to Mrs. Southwell from a travelling friend who knew of her basket collection. However, she may have travelled there herself and brought it back home with her.

See detailed conservation treatment report on this artefact.

Back to table

Zig-zag design compose of five lines of colour; white on the inside, surrounded on both sides by two lines of red; the red is then surrounded on both sides by two lines of black; lid has a similar zig-zag pattern, but lines are curved instead of straight; pattern follows the outline of the lid.

Length

27 cm

Width

45 cm

Height

29 cm

Shape and Use

Rectangular basket has a foot composed of two coils with no imbrication; basket is wide at the top, tapering towards the base to create a very stylized bow-shape, not usually seen in most N'laka'pamux baskets; lid has a bundled coiled handle attached at two points near the centre; inside lid has a lip which appears to be a cedar slat, coiled over to make a tight fit for the lid.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated; foot is two coils.

Materials

Cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black); bear grass, (sunbleached white).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, possibly North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother, Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.29

There are four large diamonds; two black on the long sides and two red on the short sides. Each diamond is outlined with a base-colour of either red or black, and an inside pattern composed of the same colour. The interior of the inner patter is composed of white. The unusual coiled slats in the centre of the tray are surrounded by a red beaded outline.

Length

37 cm

Width

46 cm

Height

6.5 cm

Shape and Use

Oval serving tray with handles on the long ends, flat bottomed. This tray is very unusual as it uses a rectangular centre of coiled slats, surrounded by bundled coils. The outside is also made of cedar slats.

Weave

Coiled bundled; coiled slats; imbricated. The basket is tightly woven, and the weave is smooth and fine. This basket is made of a combination of techniques, both of coiled bundles and of coiled cedar slats; centre of tray is made of seven coiled slats surrounded by twelve coils of bundles.

One row of cedar slats make up the outside of the tray; top of rim and handles are coiled bundles; outer sides have wide imbrications, red on sides, black on length, opposites of designs.

Materials

Split cedar root; cedar slats; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black); bear grass, (sun-bleached white).

Culture

Possibly N'laka'pamux; or downriver Salish with N'laka'pamux influence.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; Collected by her mother, Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Design Description

Multi-coloured large diamonds of red, black and white; four in number, spaced evenly around bowl; diamonds stretch from top to bottom of bowl; centres are white, surrounded by red, and outwardly by black, with white interspersed between sections of black and red.

Length

-

Width

21 cm

Height

15.5 cm

Shape and Use

A tall, deep bowl with a flat bottom and slightly rounded bottom edges; bowl comes in slightly at the top, not enough to classify as a "nut shape," but tall enough to verge on the edge between nut and bowl shape; no lid.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black); bear grass, (sun-bleached white).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; Collected by her mother, Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Catalogue Number
993.21.31

Length

57.5 cm

Width

63 cm

Height

51.5 cm

Shape and Use

Rectangular storage; inside slatted lip missing a fitted lid. Likely the lid would have carried on the design of the basket; foot is also made of slats.

Weave

Coiled bundled; imbricated.

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black); bear grass, (sun-bleached white).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, possibly North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother, Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table

Horizontal necklace design. Each necklace consists of three rows; first set at the top is black in the middle stripe, with one each of red above and below; then it alternates with red in the middle and black outside. There are eight such sets of three from the top to the bottom, continuing around the whole of the basket. Each imbricated stripe is beaded, meaning it alternates from one imbricated stitch, to one plain unimbricated, to the next imbricated in the same colour. The imbrications also alternate with the others in adjoining rows.

Length

29 cm

Width

44.5 cm

Height

27 cm

Shape and Use

Very tall, very deep rectangular "storage basket"; flared from bottom to top; extremely large—perhaps one of the largest seen by this researcher; most certainly used for storage; donor communicated that it was used at times as her playpen when she was a small child.

Weave

More than two feet high

Materials

Split cedar root; inner bark of the chokecherry (naturally red, dyed black).

Culture

N'laka'pamux, most likely North Bend or Lower Fraser Canyon.

History

This is the basket that Mrs. Freeman remembers as her childhood playpen. Donor: Mrs. Aida Freeman; collected by her mother Mrs. Kathleen Edith Pearson Southwell.

Back to table