Basket

This beautiful vanity basket was used particularly in WaiWai society, by men to hold cosmetics, toiletries and stones that had been given to them by Shamans. It was collected in the 1960’s but may have been in use for several years before then. Baskets like this are becoming increasingly rare because the cultures that make and used them are in decline at the moment.

They decorated the baskets with various animal patterns. The common motifs (images) would be scorpions, sloths, anaconda, squirrels, jaguars, monkey and patterns on the skin of the fishes. The top decorated cover contrasts with the lower part that is made of plainly woven basketry. They also attached feathers to the basket to ‘make the object alive’ and for decoration.