Accession Number
1985/2.5

Title
Basket

Artist(s)
Kuba

Artist Nationality
Kuba (Democratic Republic of Congo style)

Object Creation Date
circa 1950

Medium & Support
raffia, wood, and pigment

Dimensions
6 1/4 in x 8 7/16 in (15.9 cm x 21.5 cm)

Credit Line
Museum Purchase

Subject matter
Baskets were often used to hold objects such as razors for cutting raffia, personal care objects such as hairpins, as well as various ritual objects and medicinal substances. The piece of wood attached to the end of the fiber serves as a hook to hang the basket from the interior walls of dwellings. 

References:
Daniel Biebuyck, The Arts of Zaire, 1985
Georges Meurant, African Textiles from the Kingdom of Kuba, 1986
Roy Sieber, African Textiles and Decorative Arts, 1972
Jan Vansina, The Children of Woot, 1978

Physical Description
A basket woven in the form of a box with the middle protruding out to form a circular disk. On the top of the box the weaving forms a diamond pattern. There are several strands of fiber attached to the disk portion of the basket. There is a piece of wood attached to the end of the fiber. 

Primary Object Classification
Decorative Arts

Primary Object Type
basket

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
Objects We Use
basket
basketmaking
basketry
covers
covers (overlying objects)
household accessories
prestige