Basketry Types and Uses
Food Gathering, Storage and Preparation
Basketry played an important role in the gathering, storage and preparation of food. Baskets were (and, in some cases, still are) used to gather roots, berries, shellfish and other foods. Sturdy burden baskets capable of holding large and heavy loads were worn on the back and carried using a tumpline. Baskets made for gathering berries were often woven from flexible materials which allowed the basket to be folded and stored flat. Containers used to gather shellfish and other seafood used very open weaves, allowing for easy rinsing and water drainage.
Once gathered, food was often kept in storage baskets. These varied in size depending on the items being stored. Basketry covers made of cedar bark were used by some tribes to place over dishes or boxes filled with food.
The preparation of foods often relied on basketry. Berries and roots could be dried on woven mats spread out in the sun. Loosely woven basketry was used to strain oil from certain kinds of fish. Baskets were used for cooking in several ways. Shellfish could be steamed in openwork baskets. Closely woven, watertight containers were also used to cook foods. Red-hot rocks were placed in a water-filled basket, bringing the water to boil and cooking the contents. As the rocks cooled off, they were removed from the water with wooden tongs and replaced with newly heated rocks. As metal cooking vessels first introduced by European traders became commonplace, the use of basketry for cooking declined.
Furnishings and Garments
Furnishings made from basketry include mats, chests, trunks and cradles. Mats are made in a wide range of sizes and are woven with a variety of materials such as cedar bark, cattail leaves or tule. Mats have been used for canoe sails, house partitions and for padding on which to sleep and eat.
Garments are another important category of basketry. Rain capes can be made using shredded cedar bark or the flat leaves of cattail. Both of these materials shed water, providing excellent protection from the rain. Cedar bark can also be used for making aprons, skirts and hats. Hats provide protection from both sun and rain. For the most efficient barrier to rain, southern Northwest Coat hats are often constructed from two separate, woven layers. The inner and the outer hats are joined at the rims. Basketry hats made in a variety of techniques can be seen today at potlatches, powwows and other special events.
Ceremonial Uses
Ceremonies may feature basketry that displays crests or signifies prestige. (Crests are family emblems that are considered owned property.) Woven hats sometimes have crest designs painted on their exterior. On the northern Northwest Coast, twined basketry rings may be placed on the top of woven or carved wood crest hats. The basketry rings symbolize the high status of the wearer. In the Haida language, the word for basketry rings is sgil, meaning “wealth spirit.” These rings are sometimes called “potlatch rings,” referring to an interpretation that these rings represent the number of potlatches held by the owner. This explanation is an over-simplification, however, as important crest hats often have a set number of rings no matter how often they have been potlatched.
A few baskets are regarded so highly that they are considered crests themselves. Among the Chilkat Tlingit, for example, an enormous basket known as Kuhk-claw, or “Mother Basket,” was woven in the 1800s. Measuring almost three feet both in height and diameter, the basket was used to hold large quantities of food. Through its repeated use and display at potlatches, the basket earned the status of a crest. Today, this basket is both a source of pride and a precious heirloom for the family to which it belongs.
Baskets Made for Sale
Baskets made for sale are an important category of basketry and often comprise a large percentage of museum basketry collections. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the volume of baskets produced for sale to non-Native persons increased dramatically. Basketry became an important source of income for many families. This time period coincides with increased collecting efforts by private individuals and museums. Growing numbers of tourists came to the western United States and Canada, often seeking the opportunity to purchase a Native-made souvenir directly from the maker. Baskets, viewed as the perfect souvenir, were in high demand.
Responding to this new market, Native women began increasing the number of baskets they made, as well as experimenting with new basketry forms and design motifs. Basketry tea cozies and teacups, small “trinket” baskets and bottles covered with fine twining are but a few of the imaginative new basketry forms created during this time period.
Basketry Today
While it is an ancient art, basketry is a tradition that continues to thrive today. In the past, basket making was the domain of women. Today, both men and women practice basketry, although it remains a predominantly female art. Contemporary weavers, like their mothers and grandmothers before them, often achieve positions of great respect in their communities.
Basketry also continues to provide significant income for skilled weavers. No longer viewed solely as ethnographic specimens or souvenir art, Native-made basketry has entered the realm of fine art. Basket makers today sell their wares at powwows, art galleries and museum shops. In creating their art, Native weavers continue a living tradition that strengthens the link between past and present.
