Mat: rivercane

Mat: rivercane

Basket making

Basketwork

Cherokee baskets

Handicraft

This pair of undated rivercane mats was made by Cherokee basket weaver Lucy Long. Traditionally, the Cherokee used mats made from rivercane to cover walls and floors, for decoration and insulation. Sleeping mats were also made and used to provide comfort and insulation. During outdoor ceremonies, mats were used to cover the ground or benches to serve as rugs or seating. By the early twentieth century, their production declined. Like other Cherokee basket forms, mats continued to be made but were sold and displayed as wall hangings. The large mats were woven in bands of different patterns that were made from rivercane that was dyed using native plants of the region. These mats were dyed with either walnut or butternut root, which produce a dark brown color. The lighter tan is the color of undyed rivercane.

Long, Lucy

Artifact Collection

Hunter Library Digital Collections, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723

unknown

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

jpg

crafts (art genres)

StillImage

16238

https://southernappalachiandigitalcollections.org/object/16238

2009-06-29

All rights reserved. For permissions and use, contact Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc., Cherokee, NC 28719;

Qualla Boundary

Appalachian Region, Southern

26.5" x 17"(dimension)

27.5" x 17"(dimension)

Craft Revival