Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0753   CAS 0370-0753; Basket
Category Basketry
Object Name Basket
Culture Skokomish (aka Twana)
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Washington
County unknown
Other Geographic Data Puget Sound area
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. early 1900s
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Cattail (Typha latifolia) stems; Bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax) leaves
Description Deep round basket with flat base and nearly vertical walls, woven in plain twining technique, with a single row of 3-strand twining at the juncture of the base and sides; Warp and primary weft material is cattail stems; Warp fibers are bent over at rim and bound under the weft and also finished with a false braid stitch; Designs are woven in a half-twist overlay technique, using natural straw-colored bear grass as the background and dyed (brown, black, and deep yellow) bear grass for the actual designs; Designs around side of basket include 3 parallel geometric bands in brown and yellow or black and yellow, and a 4th band of black or brown dogs just below the rim.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 12.5, Max Diam = 15.9