Campell River, Vancouver Island Museum Photo Gallery

PC EP3

PC EP3
PC EP3
Collection: Private Collection
Motif: Butterfly
Comments:

Sliammon elder Elsie Paul commented that the "butterfly" motif used on this basket was associated with basket makers from a particular Sliammon family.  Other baskets with this design are known to have been made by Katherine's older sister, Molly Bob and by ____.

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Description:

Rectangular slat coiled basket with a row of bundle coil loopwork integrated into the basket wall.

 

A single row of bundle coil has been added to the top wall slat to form the basket rim.

 

Materials: split cedar slats, cedar root, bitter cherry bark (natural red and black-dyed), unknown grass or reed 

 

Techniques: slat coil, bundle coil, loopwork, beading

 

Motif:  Each of the 4 walls is decorated with "butterfly motifs" composed of 4 beaded diamonds arranged in a cross formation with a central imbricated element forming the 'body' of the butterfly.-  Diamond shapes are each tipped to rest on one of their 4 side facets with pairs of diamonds placed in mirrored opposition to each other.

 

Decoration: beaded design elements are done in black dyed bitter cherry bark.  The central imbricated "butterfly body" element is worked in red bitter cherry bark flanking a yellow(?) element created using an unknown plant material.