Exploring a Unique Haida Oval Basket
Video
Transcript
Exploring a Unique Haida Basket
When I go to museums, I like to do research. And sometimes, I will find baskets or hats that were made by my great, great grandparents, Isabella and Charles Edenshaw. And when I find them, I like to study them and see what designs that they’ve painted on it, or designs that they might have used or even the shape of the object that they made.
Like this basket we have here. It’s oval shaped and it’s painted on the outside, but also the inside. And my great, great grandfather Charles Edenshaw, he painted this basket. And it was purchased from a collector. And he made note of Isabella weaving the basket, but also Charles painting it. And it’s kind of significant for weavers, because usually they weren’t noted when the pieces were collected.
She would weave hats and baskets and mats and all types of things and he would paint designs on them. So they had a good partnership with creating pieces.
On the basket, we see, kind of a tail shape and some ovoids. And you look along here, there’s the beaver.
Around the basket and on the inside, there’s a salmon.
A lot of baskets are circular, so they have the central start. This one is oval shaped, so it has two starts. So if you look in at it, after viewing it for a while, you’ll see how it’s begun. And then the twining comes and it produces an oval shape. And then you weave up the basket, in comparison to this lidded basket that is circular.
It’s a technique that you would have to learn over time. Like it’s an advanced style of weaving, because it’s a bit trickier to have two… start, and then not be circular. So there’s a trick to making it oval shaped.
I like to come and spend time looking at it. It’s like visiting family, in a sense, even though it’s from a couple hundred years ago. It’s still there and it was made well. And you get to study it and see the things that they’ve been working on. And you can relate it to what you’re working on. And how their work can inspire your work. And knowing that it’s your family’s. It’s still like the teachings keep going.
Transcript
Exploring a Unique Haida Basket
When I go to museums, I like to do research. And sometimes, I will find baskets or hats that were made by my great, great grandparents, Isabella and Charles Edenshaw. And when I find them, I like to study them and see what designs that they’ve painted on it, or designs that they might have used or even the shape of the object that they made.
Like this basket we have here. It’s oval shaped and it’s painted on the outside, but also the inside. And my great, great grandfather Charles Edenshaw, he painted this basket. And it was purchased from a collector. And he made note of Isabella weaving the basket, but also Charles painting it. And it’s kind of significant for weavers, because usually they weren’t noted when the pieces were collected.
She would weave hats and baskets and mats and all types of things and he would paint designs on them. So they had a good partnership with creating pieces.
On the basket, we see, kind of a tail shape and some ovoids. And you look along here, there’s the beaver.
Around the basket and on the inside, there’s a salmon.
A lot of baskets are circular, so they have the central start. This one is oval shaped, so it has two starts. So if you look in at it, after viewing it for a while, you’ll see how it’s begun. And then the twining comes and it produces an oval shape. And then you weave up the basket, in comparison to this lidded basket that is circular.
It’s a technique that you would have to learn over time. Like it’s an advanced style of weaving, because it’s a bit trickier to have two… start, and then not be circular. So there’s a trick to making it oval shaped.
I like to come and spend time looking at it. It’s like visiting family, in a sense, even though it’s from a couple hundred years ago. It’s still there and it was made well. And you get to study it and see the things that they’ve been working on. And you can relate it to what you’re working on. And how their work can inspire your work. And knowing that it’s your family’s. It’s still like the teachings keep going.
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
Watch the video by Ariane Xay Kuyaas. What are the key points that she shares? If you could ask her questions about the basket, or about Xaads xaygang (Haida weaving) in general, what would they be?
LOOK
In this video, ginn xay ‘léeygaa (Haida weaver) Ariane Xay Kuyaas explains why this káadii (spruce-root basket) is unique. What does she say?
THINK
Why do you think crest figures were painted on this káadii (spruce-root basket)? Do you think these crest figures are significant? Explain your reasoning to a partner.
THINK
This káadii (spruce-root basket) was made and painted for ‘Yáats X̱aadée (Euro-American) collectors, and could have been displayed in a Victorian living space as a decoration. How do you think the intended audience and use of this piece influenced how the Edenshaws wove and painted this piece?
Details
Date 2019
Materials Transcript
Exploring a Unique Haida Basket
When I go to museums, I like to do research. And sometimes, I will find baskets or hats that were made by my great, great grandparents, Isabella and Charles Edenshaw. And when I find them, I like to study them and see what designs that they’ve painted on it, or designs that they might have used or even the shape of the object that they made.
Like this basket we have here. It’s oval shaped and it’s painted on the outside, but also the inside. And my great, great grandfather Charles Edenshaw, he painted this basket. And it was purchased from a collector. And he made note of Isabella weaving the basket, but also Charles painting it. And it’s kind of significant for weavers, because usually they weren’t noted when the pieces were collected.
She would weave hats and baskets and mats and all types of things and he would paint designs on them. So they had a good partnership with creating pieces.
On the basket, we see, kind of a tail shape and some ovoids. And you look along here, there’s the beaver.
Around the basket and on the inside, there’s a salmon.
A lot of baskets are circular, so they have the central start. This one is oval shaped, so it has two starts. So if you look in at it, after viewing it for a while, you’ll see how it’s begun. And then the twining comes and it produces an oval shape. And then you weave up the basket, in comparison to this lidded basket that is circular.
It’s a technique that you would have to learn over time. Like it’s an advanced style of weaving, because it’s a bit trickier to have two… start, and then not be circular. So there’s a trick to making it oval shaped.
I like to come and spend time looking at it. It’s like visiting family, in a sense, even though it’s from a couple hundred years ago. It’s still there and it was made well. And you get to study it and see the things that they’ve been working on. And you can relate it to what you’re working on. And how their work can inspire your work. And knowing that it’s your family’s. It’s still like the teachings keep going.
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- Ginn xay ‘leeygaa (Haida weaver) Ariane Xay Kuyaas shows an oval-shape káadii (spruce-root basket) that her great-great-grandmother Isabella Edenshaw wove.
- Oval baskets are unique because they have two starting points instead of one.
- This basket was painted by Ariane’s great-great-grandfather Charles Edenshaw.
In this video, award-winning ginn xay ‘leeyga (Haida weaver) Ariane Xay Kuyaas describes an oval-shape káadii (spruce-root basket) that her great-great-grandmother Isabella Edenshaw wove.
Oval káadii (spruce-root baskets) are unique: instead of having one starting point, which is common for circular baskets, they have two. They are made using a very advanced weaving technique.
This basket was painted by Ariane’s great-great-grandfather Charles Edenshaw. The design shows a beaver on the outside and a salmon on the inside.
In this video, award-winning ginn xay ‘leeygaa (Haida weaver) Ariane Xay Kuyaas describes a káadii (spruce root basket) that her great-great-grandmother Isabella Edenshaw wove.
Oval káadii (spruce-root baskets) are unique: instead of having one starting point, which is common for circular baskets, they have two. They are made using a very advanced weaving technique.
This basket is also special because it was painted by Ariane’s great-great-grandfather Charles Edenshaw. The Edenshaws often worked together, and their pieces can be found in collections across the world. The basket features formline designs: a beaver on the outside and a salmon on the inside.
- Ginn xay ‘leeygaa (Haida weaver) Ariane Xay Kuyaas shows an oval-shape káadii (spruce-root basket) that her great-great-grandmother Isabella Edenshaw wove.
- Oval baskets are unique because they have two starting points instead of one.
- This basket was painted by Ariane’s great-great-grandfather Charles Edenshaw.
In this video, award-winning ginn xay ‘leeyga (Haida weaver) Ariane Xay Kuyaas describes an oval-shape káadii (spruce-root basket) that her great-great-grandmother Isabella Edenshaw wove.
Oval káadii (spruce-root baskets) are unique: instead of having one starting point, which is common for circular baskets, they have two. They are made using a very advanced weaving technique.
This basket was painted by Ariane’s great-great-grandfather Charles Edenshaw. The design shows a beaver on the outside and a salmon on the inside.
In this video, award-winning ginn xay ‘leeygaa (Haida weaver) Ariane Xay Kuyaas describes a káadii (spruce root basket) that her great-great-grandmother Isabella Edenshaw wove.
Oval káadii (spruce-root baskets) are unique: instead of having one starting point, which is common for circular baskets, they have two. They are made using a very advanced weaving technique.
This basket is also special because it was painted by Ariane’s great-great-grandfather Charles Edenshaw. The Edenshaws often worked together, and their pieces can be found in collections across the world. The basket features formline designs: a beaver on the outside and a salmon on the inside.
Summary
- Ginn xay ‘leeygaa (Haida weaver) Ariane Xay Kuyaas shows an oval-shape káadii (spruce-root basket) that her great-great-grandmother Isabella Edenshaw wove.
- Oval baskets are unique because they have two starting points instead of one.
- This basket was painted by Ariane’s great-great-grandfather Charles Edenshaw.
Essential
In this video, award-winning ginn xay ‘leeyga (Haida weaver) Ariane Xay Kuyaas describes an oval-shape káadii (spruce-root basket) that her great-great-grandmother Isabella Edenshaw wove.
Oval káadii (spruce-root baskets) are unique: instead of having one starting point, which is common for circular baskets, they have two. They are made using a very advanced weaving technique.
This basket was painted by Ariane’s great-great-grandfather Charles Edenshaw. The design shows a beaver on the outside and a salmon on the inside.
In-Depth
In this video, award-winning ginn xay ‘leeygaa (Haida weaver) Ariane Xay Kuyaas describes a káadii (spruce root basket) that her great-great-grandmother Isabella Edenshaw wove.
Oval káadii (spruce-root baskets) are unique: instead of having one starting point, which is common for circular baskets, they have two. They are made using a very advanced weaving technique.
This basket is also special because it was painted by Ariane’s great-great-grandfather Charles Edenshaw. The Edenshaws often worked together, and their pieces can be found in collections across the world. The basket features formline designs: a beaver on the outside and a salmon on the inside.