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Hipped Salish Basket

Curated Submission
Place
British Columbia, Canada
Date
Early 1900s
DIMENSIONS in centimetres
61 x 39 x 34
Materials & techniques
Cedar, reed; Woven bundle with imbrications
Credit
Unknown
ID
Delta Museum and Archives Society DE1995.1 a, b
The Salish people traditionally occupied the area around the Gulf of Georgia, Puget Sound, and Vancouver Island. Their traditional way of life made use of the abundant natural resources of the area and involved farming and harvesting a variety of materials all year round. Basket making was a necessary and artistically prized skill in the Salish tradition.
 
This basket is an unusual example of traditional cedar weaving techniques. It is not typical for Salish baskets to be hipped, or to have a narrowed top. The creator of this basket used cedar strips to provide some stability at the hip and then narrowed the top, where it is also stabilized by a cedar strip that is wrapped with cedar twining. The bottom is woven cedar, using a twining technique that interlocks strips of cedar, providing a sturdy base.
 
This basket reflects the evolution of techniques that meld European and Salish traditions, making it a uniquely Canadian artifact. The geometric design style also suggests a connection with Interior Salish communities, highlighting the intricate trade routes of First Nations communities.

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