Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0068A,B   CAS 0370-0068A,B; Effigy basket with lid (crab)
Category Basketry
Object Name Effigy basket with lid (crab)
Culture Coushatta
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, or Texas
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1940
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Pine (Pinus sp.) needles; Raffia grass leaves; Aniline dyes
Description Effigy basket in the form of a crab; Oval body has flat base and rounded sides that curve inward at the rim; Corresponding oval lid has interior lip that fits inside mouth of basket; Both basket and lid are woven in open coiled technique over a bundle foundation; Warp material is pine needles and primary weft material is undyed raffia grass leaves; Appended tail, 8 legs (4 legs on each side), and pair of large claws on front are all wrapped in dyed red raffia leaves; Eyes and antennae on front are made of dyed black raffia leaves; Top of lid is decorated with dyed red raffia fibers woven in overstitch technique.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 4.1, Width = ca. 12.5, Length = 15.8