
The
women of Fort Liard, Northwest Territories, have been making and
using birchbark baskets for centuries. After the labour intensive
harvesting of the bark, each basket is meticulously crafted and
requires many hours to fold, shape, and stitch together with
spruce root and sinew. The porcupine quill work is the most difficult
and time-consuming part of making a basket. After the quills
have been sorted by size, cleaned, and dyed different colours,
they are softened in warm water just before sewn into unique
designs on the
basket.
Traditionally, the light-weight but sturdy birchbark baskets were
used for cooking, picking berries, storing tools and food, and
carrying water. Today, these baskets are valued around the world
as an art form.
North End Gallery has selected an outstanding assortment of quill-worked
birchbark baskets in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Each basket
is signed by the artist.
Price range $50 to $295.
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