Spruce-root basket with painted formline design
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LOOK
Look closely at the designs on this ḵayd hllngaay ḵ’ayts’as (basket). Some designs are woven, while others are painted. Can you spot the difference? What do you think the designs represent? Read the historical context below to verify your answers.
THINK
The designs painted on this ḵayd hllngaay ḵ’ayts’as (basket) represent sG̱aana (killer whales). Why do you think the artist chose to paint these animals on a basket? Make a list of possible reasons.
Hint: Think about who might have made this basket, and where it was made.
Details
Date Unknown
Materials - Spruce Roots
- Mineral Paint
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- This large basket was woven with ḵayd hlln.nga (spruce roots) and painted in formline design.
- The formline design makes it look as though the sG̱aana (killer whales) are swimming around the basket.
This large ḵayd hllngaay ḵ’ayts’as (spruce-root basket) was decorated with formline design paintings to make the sG̱aana (killer whales) look as though they are swimming around it. The artist also wove dyed ḵayd hlln.nga (spruce roots) around the basket, to look like bands.
This large basket was woven with ḵayd hlln.nga (spruce roots) and painted with sG̱aana (killer whales) in formline design. Around the basket, the artist wove dyed ḵayd hlln.nga (spruce roots) to look like bands, and then painted sG̱aana (killer whales) between those lines. The formline design gives the impression that the sG̱aana (killer whales) are swimming around the outside of the basket.
- This large basket was woven with ḵayd hlln.nga (spruce roots) and painted in formline design.
- The formline design makes it look as though the sG̱aana (killer whales) are swimming around the basket.
This large ḵayd hllngaay ḵ’ayts’as (spruce-root basket) was decorated with formline design paintings to make the sG̱aana (killer whales) look as though they are swimming around it. The artist also wove dyed ḵayd hlln.nga (spruce roots) around the basket, to look like bands.
This large basket was woven with ḵayd hlln.nga (spruce roots) and painted with sG̱aana (killer whales) in formline design. Around the basket, the artist wove dyed ḵayd hlln.nga (spruce roots) to look like bands, and then painted sG̱aana (killer whales) between those lines. The formline design gives the impression that the sG̱aana (killer whales) are swimming around the outside of the basket.
Summary
- This large basket was woven with ḵayd hlln.nga (spruce roots) and painted in formline design.
- The formline design makes it look as though the sG̱aana (killer whales) are swimming around the basket.
Essential
This large ḵayd hllngaay ḵ’ayts’as (spruce-root basket) was decorated with formline design paintings to make the sG̱aana (killer whales) look as though they are swimming around it. The artist also wove dyed ḵayd hlln.nga (spruce roots) around the basket, to look like bands.
In-Depth
This large basket was woven with ḵayd hlln.nga (spruce roots) and painted with sG̱aana (killer whales) in formline design. Around the basket, the artist wove dyed ḵayd hlln.nga (spruce roots) to look like bands, and then painted sG̱aana (killer whales) between those lines. The formline design gives the impression that the sG̱aana (killer whales) are swimming around the outside of the basket.