Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Basket: rivercane, storage

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  • This storage basket was made from rivercane, woven in a traditional Cherokee style. Although its maker is not known, the form, material, technique, and pattern are typical of Cherokee basketry. Traditionally, baskets such as these were made to store domestic goods, from dry foodstuffs to clothing. The natural aeration of the single weave allows the stored goods to remain dry. This basket was woven from rivercane that was dyed using walnut for the brown color and bloodroot for the orange. Rivercane, walnut, and bloodroot are native plants of the region. A single weave basket, the rivercane was woven upward from a square base. The central motif is a variation of Noon Day Sun.