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AntiqueThompson River Salish Indian Coiled Basketry Bowl, Imbricated SteppedDesign, Circa 1880-1910
Thisexcellent Thompson River Salish coiled basketry bowl is medium-smallin size, has a wonderful early patina and features a Classic 5-stepped pattern of imbricated decoration. The basket, like most madeby the Northwest Tribes, is coiled with split cedar root on a bundledcedar root foundation. The imbricated decoration is made of beargrassleaves and strips of cherry bark which are inserted into the outersurface of the coils as the basket rises up from the base start up tothe rim. In this basket, the pattern of decoration appears as acontinuous series of flat topped mountains or when viewed lookingdown at the bottom of the basket, the hills look like a 5-petaledflower. The normally hidden single row of decoration on the base maybe a type of signature of the maker.
TheThompson River Salish live in the rugged Fraser River Valley, inlandfrom Vancouver, BC and just north of Washington State. This tribe isa member of the larger Salishan Cultural and Linguistic group oftribes, which include the Coast Salish who reside on the east side ofVancouver Island and the adjacent coastal regions as well as tribes,including the Quinault and Quileute of western Washington State,whose cultures originally extended down to the northern edge of theColumbia River Valley. All these tribes are culturally similar to themore well known Northwest Coast Tribes with whom they share relatedart and religious practices including totemic sculpture and thePotlatch.
TheInterior Salish were renowned for their basket making and theirbaskets were traded extensively to other Northwest Coast Tribes aswell as to the Plateau Tribes far to the east. This fine early basketwas found in an old Reno, Nevada collection.
Dimensions: 7-1/4" across/ top diameter, 4-3/4" base diameter, 3-3/8" tall
Condition: Very Good. Structurally sound w/ no cracks or repairs. There isminor wear and losses overall including small losses to theimbricated decoration and two areas where rim stitches are missing(see photos). The piece has a wonderful antique patina.
