Temple Basket c. 20th century

This temple basket was made by an anonymous artist out of natural materials and glass beads. Though we don't know when or where this basket was made, its presence in a museum raises important questions about cultural institutions. Baskets such as this are often displayed as examples of indigenous craftsmanship, but what does it mean to categorize functional, cultural objects as 'art'? The label of 'temple basket' implies a sacred or ceremonial use. Is this label an accurate reflection of its function? Or is it a romanticized projection onto the cultural other? These are the kind of questions we, as art historians, must ask. Analyzing the institution that houses an object can provide deeper understanding into the artwork itself. Careful study of museum archives, anthropological records, and the oral histories of indigenous communities, can reveal much about this object and its complex history.