Thimble Basket by Theresa Camilla Lyon Sockalexis, Penobscot circa 1930-1935

I just got this today, a beautiful Native American thimble basket made by Theresa Camilla Lyon Sockalexis of the Penobscot Native American tribe. I verified this by looking up a photograph taken for the MaineMemory.net website. The yellow basket here in the last spot is the one from MaineMemory.net, and they state it was made by Sockalexis. My Thimble Basket is woven in Salmon Pink and it is exactly like the yellow basket in weave and shape and it is perfect in every way. The thimble basket was sold to me by a Etsy seller, who offered it with a number 8 size Ketcham and McDougall thimble.

The thimble is Sterling Silver with a lovely repousse design on the bottom half and is plated with 10kt Gold. It also has a place within the repousse design that is for an engraving of initials, but this one is still blank. This thimble is dated to 1902, but this woven miniature basket would have been made around 1930-1935. The basket is made from Ash splints and woven with Sweet Grass. It measures one and a quarter inch in height, and a half inch in diameter. I love the color, Salmon Pink is my favorite and this looks like it was made yesterday with no fading in the color at all. I believe the thimble and this basket were both paired up at a later date and maybe put away for safe keeping, because this looks as good as the day it was finished.

This is the second Thimble Basket that I have that was made by Theresa Camilla Lyon Sockalexis, now I have two different styles of her weaving, this style and her Curly Weave style. I am glad to add this gorgeous Basket to my miniature Native American collection. Enjoy the pics :)