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Flaring bowl shaped basket with large loops sewn on outer surface. Constructed sides of sweetgrass, light tan fibers, on 5 rows of base, with bulrush on upper portion of bowl, and 4 sweetgrass coils forming the loops (or "ears") and one bulrush outer coil. Coils are stitched together with palm leaf fibers.
Elephant Ear Basket
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Randy Batista

Elephant Ear Basket

Artist Alethia Foreman (American)
Date2012
Place of originMt Pleasant, South Carolina, United States
MediumLongleaf pine needles, sweetgrass, bulrush, palm fiber
Dimensions7 1/2 x 12 x 12 in. (19.1 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm)
ClassificationsBasketry
Credit LineMuseum Purchase, funds provided by the David A. Cofrin Acquisition Endowment
Object number2012.60.3
Collections
Visual DescriptionFlaring bowl shaped basket with large loops sewn on outer surface. Constructed sides of sweetgrass, light tan fibers, on 5 rows of base, with bulrush on upper portion of bowl, and 4 sweetgrass coils forming the loops (or "ears") and one bulrush outer coil. Coils are stitched together with palm leaf fibers.
Round basket with handle and flat lid, hinged with coiled loops and clasp; adorned with pine needle knots on top and sides, dark fibers (bulrush) on bottom half, light colored fibers (sweetgrass) on shoulder and lid. Coils are sewn together with palm leaf strips.
Sewing or Pocketbook Basket
Linda F. Blake
2012
Carinated conical basket with lid, alternating dark and light registers; sides and lid are made of bulrush (dark brown) and sweet grass (lighter tan) and top lid is made with pine needles. Coils are sewn together with palm leaf strips.
In and Out Basket
Elizabeth Kinlaw
2012
Cylindrical coiled basket with 3 tiered stepped lid. Constructed of dark brown bulrush fibers (body, bottom tier of lid) and lighter sweetgrass (lid, bottom) and pineneedles (top of lid and bottom), coils sewn together with light colored palm strips.
Stepped Lid Basket
Barbara Manigault
2012
cylindrical basket with conical lid, made of tan and dark brown fibers; coils of grasses bound with palm leaf or palm stem strips
Lidded basket
Mary Jane Manigualt
1971
Sifter
Sifter
Congolese Artist (Democratic Republic of Congo)
c. 1978
A rough, brownish-grey sculpture with a lumpy, textured surface, appearing as uneven, stacked layers or coils with a small depression near the top.
Coiled Feathered Serpent
Aztec Artist
1400 - 1520
Vessel in form of coiled serpent, with tail looped over one coil of body, end extending opposite head, wide triangular head with broad mouth open showing clenched triangular teeth, circular eyes and nose ridge on top of head, small globular cup on top of tail loop, opening into hollow body.
Serpent cup
Inca Artist
1400–1530
Bowl form made by twined thin sisal and bark fibers, alternating multi-colored bands; small tufts on edges; Bands of yellow, dark brown, light brown and pink, on upper portion and dark brown and tan bands with yellow on lower portion (inconsistent pattern of horizontal stripes of varying widths)
Twined work basket (Kidasi)
Taita Artist
late 20th century
Plaited fiber in hanging rectangles edged with cowrie shells. Front has 4 hanging panels with attached dangling disc. Repeat in back. Large shells are mounted on either side of plaited fiber. Connected by stick that supports fiber. Double loops.
Double shell necklace
New Guinea, Coastal region, Astrolabe Bay
20th century
Long open ? plaited fiber cap. When worn extends down back and ends in small likeness of lizard or crocodile with mouth. Strands of fiber adorned with cowrie shells and painted with red and white pigment. Small twine loops with evidence of feathers at top.
Bridal Headpiece (ambusap)
Iatmul
20th century
Lidded basket
Lidded basket
Congolese Artist (Democratic Republic of Congo)
c. 1980
Trapezoidal shaped comb with wooden teeth wrapped in brown and tan fibers on the upper portion.
Comb
Malawian Artist
1980

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