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2020.4.7LOT - rigid, decorated coiled basket

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection Read more about this collection »

Object Typebasket Place CollectedAfrica: Botswana, Central District, Nata

Item Details

Object Typebasket Place CollectedAfrica: Botswana, Central District, Nata
Accession Number 2020.4.7LOT Title rigid, decorated coiled basket Object Status original Category organic tools Object Type basket Portion body and lid Creator unknown Date Made 1970's Place Collected Africa: Botswana, Central District, Nata Culture Tyua Cultural Region Southern Africa Collected By Vierich, Helga Materials organic > floral > bark; organic > floral > leaf; composite Techniques coiled; woven Description
A rigid, decorated coiled basket and lid made from the vegetable ivory of unopened mokola palm leaves. Composed of a palm fibre bundle for the coil foundation of the base, there are intentionally split stitches on…
A rigid, decorated coiled basket and lid made from the vegetable ivory of unopened mokola palm leaves. Composed of a palm fibre bundle for the coil foundation of the base, there are intentionally split stitches on both the interior and exterior surfaces, as well as interlocking stitches that wrap around two coils for the structural support of the body's of the basket and lid. An overhand knot is reinforced with stitches in the center of these bodies. The dyed reddish-brown decorative stitches are comparable to the “Knees of the Tortoise” and the "Forehead of the Zebra" patterns seen on the Botswanacraft website, which utilizes natural and dyed stitches to create nested diamond shapes. Donated by Helga Vierich, it originally held ostrich eggs. There is slight wear on the working surfaces of the basket body. These include the bottom rim from holding weight, and the stitches near the rim are broken and worn, most likely from handling. The lid also has slight wear on the working surfaces, including the stitches near the rim that are broken and worn, most likely from handling. On the non-working surface of the body, there is dirt, down feathers, and some insect castings.
Period Historic Credit Line Vierich, Helga Scientific Name Hyphaene petersiana; Berchemia discolor; Euclea divinorum View Taxonomy Details » View Taxonomy Details » View Taxonomy Details »

Citation

Page Citation for 2020.4.7LOT - rigid, decorated coiled basket

Page Citation

"2020.4.7LOT - rigid, decorated coiled basket, Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/17-75231. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom Plantae Phylum Magnoliophyta Class Magnoliopsida Order Rosales Family Rhamnaceae Genus Berchemia Species Berchemia discolor
This hierarchy is created from our museum records, it may not always accurately reflect modern taxonomies.

Taxonomic Hierarchy for Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Disclaimer
This hierarchy is created from our museum records, it may not always accurately reflect modern taxonomies.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom Plantae Phylum Magnoliophyta Class Magnoliopsida Order Ericales Family Ebenaceae Genus Euclea Species Euclea divinorum
This hierarchy is created from our museum records, it may not always accurately reflect modern taxonomies.

Taxonomic Hierarchy for Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Disclaimer
This hierarchy is created from our museum records, it may not always accurately reflect modern taxonomies.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom Plantae Phylum Magnoliophyta Class Liliopsida Order Arecales Family Arecaceae Genus Hyphaene Species Hyphaene petersiana
This hierarchy is created from our museum records, it may not always accurately reflect modern taxonomies.

Taxonomic Hierarchy for Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Disclaimer
This hierarchy is created from our museum records, it may not always accurately reflect modern taxonomies.

Object Hierarchy

2020.4.7LOT - rigid, decorated coiled basket

Object Type basket Place Collected Africa: Botswana, Central District, Nata Date Collected
Object Type Place Collected Date Collected
Object Type Place Collected Date Collected

Publications

Author Goldberg, Elizabeth
Publication Date 2020-10-29
Author Hitchcock, Robert K and Fanuel M Nangati
Publication Date 2000