Comments: This basket was acquired from a Homalco basket maker while the owner lived in Owen Bay or in Redonda Bay.
Lidded storage basket in the shape of a cylinder with walls that are flared slightly toward the basket rim. Bundle coil lid has a knob shaped handle and the lid itself is very slightly domed.
A single course of bundle coil tops the basket wall to which is attached an inset slat forming the basket lip. The lid fits over top of this lip. The basket is slightly “footed”, with the base inset about ½ a centimeter. The base slats are wider than the slats used in wall construction (ca. 2 ½ cm. vs 1 ½ cm. for wall slats). A single course of bundle coil rims the base. Stablization stitches are placed between slats and in the centre of slats at both ends of the base slats.
Technique: slat and bundle coil construction. A spiral of bundle coiling was used to construct the lid. The basket body and base are made of slats. Decorative imbricated designs on both the lid and body of the basket. 2 small sections of decorative beading near the knob handle of the lid.
Material: Slats are made of split cedar wood; stitching is done with split cedar root which may also have been used to form the core of the coiled bundle that was used to construct the basket lid. Bitter cherry bark (prunus emarginata) in its natural (undyed) red colour and bleached corn husk have been used form the decorative elements.
Dimensions: Basket wall height: 23 cm. Total height (to top of knob): 30.5 cm. Basket diameter (base): 22.5 cm. Basket diameter at mouth of basket: 29.5 cm.
Motif: Other Decorative motifs are unlike any other baskets currently included in the inventory. Two different paired motifs are used on the basket body. Both are vaguely cross shaped (see photos). A ‘signature band’ runs around the lid rim. Only some of the stitches remain but the pattern appears to be 2 pairs of narrow bands flanking 1 wide band, or possibly 2 narrow bands followed by a wide band followed by a narrow band.