Available Artwork
Other Art by this Artist
Charlotte Carpenter - Abalone Shell with Whale Weaving
Charlotte Carpenter - Traditional Woven Bog Grass - Basket with Handle
Charlotte Carpenter - Traditional Woven Bog Grass - Basket
Charlotte Carpenter - First Nations Woven Grass Bottle
Charlotte Carpenter - Traditional Woven Bog Grass - Moonsnail Shell
Charlotte Carpenter - Traditional Woven Bog Grass - Basket, Large
Charlotte Carpenter - Bog Grass Shell Weaving
Charlotte Carpenter - Traditional Woven Bog Grass - Bottle
Charlotte Carpenter - Traditional Woven Bog Grass - Basket, Small
Charlotte Carpenter - Traditional Woven Bog Grass - Basket, Large
Charlotte Carpenter - Woven Bog Grass Bottle
Charlotte Carpenter - Traditional Woven Bog Grass - Basket, Extra Small
Charlotte Carpenter - Bog Grass Weaving on Abalone Shell
Charlotte Carpenter - Bog Grass Lidded Basket
Charlotte Carpenter - Traditional Woven Cedar Bark - Hat
Charlotte Carpenter - Canoe and Whale Woven Basket
Charlotte Carpenter - Traditional Woven Bog Grass - Basket, Small
Charlotte Carpenter - Traditional Woven Bog Grass - Earrings
Charlotte Carpenter
Basket Weaver
Port Alberni, B.C. • Nuu-Chah-Nulth
View all available artwork by Charlotte
Bio
Charlotte Carpenter has been weaving baskets for over 40 years and is a teacher of traditional basket weaving. She uses the traditional weaving materials of bog (swamp) grass and cedar bark.
Charlotte is originally from Bella Bella, BC. The village of Bella Bella, with a population of 1400, is located on Campbell Island, north of Vancouver Island and is home to the Heiltsuk First Nation. Charlotte married into the Toquaht Nation and lives on Vancouver Island in Port Alberni with her husband.
When Charlotte was a young woman she was intrigued by the art of weaving and spent many hours watching the late Emma and Mary McKay weave their baskets out of bog grass. She had to learn when and how to pick, cut, preserve, store, and dye the grasses before learning the techniques of basket weaving.
Traditional weaving molds are carved out of western red cedar by the weavers, in various shapes and sizes to suit the different purposes of each basket, and are passed down from generation to generation. Traditional dyes used to be made from natural materials such as pitch, cedar bark and berries. Current wicker dyes are used today having proved to be far more fade resistant and stable.
Charlotte collected her 'signature' designs from various teachers and has become a master weaver herself. You will find the history of her teachings incorporated into her intricately woven baskets.
Sea Lion - Cowichan; Salmon and Yellow Footed Duck from the late Mable Taylor of Tsheshaht; Deer, Sitting Duck and Flying Eagle from Amelia David & Jenny Cootes of Uchucklesaht; Whale, Canoe and Flying Duck from the late Mary and Emma McKay of Toquaht.
