Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0751   CAS 0370-0751; Basket
Category Basketry
Object Name Basket
Culture Makah
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Washington
County
Other Geographic Data Makah Indian Reservation area
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1950s
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Cedar (Cedrus sp.) bark splints; Bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax) leaves; Rye grass (Elymus sp.) stems; Aniline dyes
Description Small round basket with flat base and nearly vertical walls; Warp material is cedar bark; Center of base is woven in simple plaiting technique, using cedar bark slats for both warp and weft; Outer portion of base is woven in plain twining technique, using rye grass stems as the weft; Sides of basket are woven in wrapped twining technique, using bear grass leaves as the weft; Warp fibers are bent over at the rim and bound into the final row of twining; Designs on side of basket are woven of dyed bear grass leaves and consist of orange horizontal band framed between black bands around lower side, and composite band of plain blue or black bands alternating with bicolored bands (blue or black and natural undyed fibers) just above mid-section.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 6.7, Max Diam = 12.4