Basket

Basket

Economics
Indigenous peoples
culture

The object is a basket from the Nkala’pamux people around the Fraser river area. The basket is made from plant fiber, wood, string and possibly pigment (paint). The dimension of the basket is: 50cm in length, 34cm in width, 24cm in height. The basket lid has the same dimension except for height which is 3cm.
This item could relate to the tradition of potlatch due to it being given away as a gift. It also could be gift giving between indigenous people and outsiders.
It could relate to the Nkala’pamux’s acquisition of wealth from western sources so that they could afford to give away objects as gifts.
It is a physical demonstration of the traditional basket weaving abilities of a specific group of indigenous people, which could be compared to other indigenous groups’ baskets.

Nkala’pamux, Fraser River area

American Museum of Natural History, Hall of the Northwest coast Indians

https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/human-origins-and-cultural-halls/hall-of-northwest-coast-indians/nlaka-pamux/basketry/basket

Date of creation Unknown

Object acquired 1901, donated by George Peabody, but the collector was Mr and Mrs C.F Briggs. Only a sole reference to Mr C.F Briggs was found, which confirmed he was a collector of Indigenous items.

Melvin Kwan

American Museum of Natural History
16 / 8833 Field No: 51D

N/A

Material Object - woven basket (organics: plant fibre, wood string)

20th century British Columbia