Artist/Maker
James-Perry, Elizabeth
b. 1973
Title
Potomska
Date2018
MediumAll natural fibers and natural dyes and pigments, organic hemp yarn
Dimensions7 × 5 in. (17.8 × 12.7 cm)
Donor credit lineODHS Purchase, 2018
Object number2018.58
Institutional Credit LineCourtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum
DescriptionPotomska, hand-woven Traditional Wampanoag Patterned Twine Technique Basket, organic hemp yarn. This type of basket would have been familiar to Ruth Moses and was made by one of her descendants. The twine weaving technique is ancient and involves tight weaving with two or more wefts of organic hemp yarn to create an especially strong, soft-fiber basket, featuring abstract geometric forms. Locally harvested black walnut husk dye was used with alum for the chestnut brown and with alum and iron, and logwood for the black, for strong contrast against the natural color background. The toothed pattern was created by twisting the appropriate color yarn to the front, and the basked was woven upside down starting with the bottom, and the result is an s-twist upright basket. Maker Elizabeth James-Perry is an Aquinnah Wampanoag and Paul Cuffe family descendant (Jonathan Cuffe & Hepsibah Occouch). Traditionally made Wampanoag basket. Label TextLabel text from Paul Cuffe exhibit, 2019:Elizabeth James-Perry - Aquinnah Wampanoag, Jonathan Cuffee & Hepsibah Occouch descendant, 2018
Potomska
Hand-woven Traditional Wampanoag Patterned Twine Technique Basket, organic hemp yarn
This type of basket would have been familiar to Ruth Moses and was made by one of her descendants. The twine weaving technique is ancient and involves tight weaving with two or more wefts of organic hemp yarn to create an especially strong, soft-fiber basket, featuring abstract geometric forms. Locally harvested black walnut husk dye was used with alum for the chesnut brown and with alum and iron, and logwood for the black, for strong contrast against the natural color background. The toothed pattern was created by twisting the appropriate color yarn to the front, and the basked was woven upside down starting with the bottom, and the result is an s-twist upright basket. ProvenanceAquinnah Wampanog
On View
On view
Deborah Bachiler Wing
19th Century
19th Century
19th Century
