Posted 9 years ago
sallyhwebb
(1 item)
Can anyone identify the age and origin of this basket?
Measurements: 5" W x 3.5" H (w/o handle) x 3.5" D
Hinged lid attached with (2) blue ribbons
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i love this kind of basket! when i was young, my memere had quite a few of these - made by her Micmac relatives in Nova Scotia.
Beautiful basket! It was probably made around the late 1800's to early 1910. And yes, the MicMac did make this style of basket. Also the Abenaki and Iroquois did too. This basket was made with splints from the Black Ash tree, and the ribbon that decorates the top is not done anymore. There may be the odd basket here and there, but it was difficult and laborious work to fashion the tiny splints into the wonderful hills and valleys. The handles look to be Bentwood, very solid.
To have one of these in your collection is a plus, I am jealous :) But I will be content that I am in good company with everyone who loves this basket and yourself, we all have good taste right? Thank you for putting pictures up of this beauty!
that loopy rim is kind of unusual too. i don't think i've seen that before. i bought one on ebay recently which appears new - it's a beautiful acorn basket - shaped like an acorn. the different splints might have been dyed different colors at one time too. you can usually see if this is the case around the edges where it is protected from light.
Ho2cultcha,
I only see this type of style basket every once in a while, and it is really hard to find one that is without damage. Those tiny 1/32 size splints are hard enough to weave through the larger splints without them breaking. But to do this type of style with the loops and hills without it having anything to lean up against had to have been super difficult. I would bet that the artist charged more for this type of basket too.
I just saw one earlier this evening that I did not bid on due to damage. I really want one of this type of weave for my private collection, but one has yet to jump out at me. I can wait though, I can be patient :)
Check out this basket on Ebay, it is purchased already but it is really nice. Search for item number 231703095445.