Mat: rivercane

Mat: rivercane

Basket making

Basketwork

Cherokee baskets

Handicraft

This undated rivercane mat 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. This mat is one of a pair woven in a diamond-shaped pattern. They were made from rivercane that was dyed using walnut to produce a 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

16239

https://southernappalachiandigitalcollections.org/object/16239

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

16" x 14"(dimension)

Craft Revival