RARE 19TH C PENOBSCOT BAY, ME NAT AM, EASTERN WOODLAND TRIBE POTATO STMPD BASKET

Description

RARE
MID
to
LATE 19TH CENTURY
PENOBSCOT BAY, MAINE,
NATIVE AMERICAN,
EASTERN WOODLAND TRIBE, POTATO STAMPED, WOVEN BLACK ASH SPLINT GATHERING BASKET,
featuring
REPEATING FLORAL
or
FERN MOTIF
&
HAND DYED MELON COLOR, VERTICAL SQUARE ASH SPLINTS
&
DEEP GREEN
or
CHARCOAL UPPER BLACK
as
SUPPORT RIM
&
EQUATORIAL BANDING
(Circa 1865-1885)
Mid to late 19th century
Native American
Penobscot Bay,
eastern woodland tribe, decorated, hand woven, black ash splint gathering baskets, with vegetable dyed slats & potato stamping
DIMENSIONS:
14 1⁄4" Length x 10
1⁄4" Depth
x 6
1⁄2" Height
Weight:
11.6 oz.
DESCRIPTION:
This recently discovered in
western Massachusetts,
original, authentic,
mid to late 19th century
Penobscot Bay,
coastal Maine region,
potato stamped, hand dyed, black ash splint wood rectangular gathering basket,
was made by one of the
Eastern Woodland
Native American
tribes
living in the
coastal Maine region
and who were known as prolific and very accomplished basket weavers. This particular basket is now only missing some of the sweet grass, wrapped cord that envelopes and circumnavigates the upper black ash splint wood. The
14 1⁄4" in length x 10 1⁄4" in depth x 6 1⁄2" in height
rectangular, high sidewall basket features vegetable dyed square slats of splint black ash, as well as a paint decorated upper black ash wooden rim. Some of the sweet grass woven around the top of the support rim is now missing and a previous make-do, glued repair seems to have been exercised, affixing the top steam bent wood rim to itself where the sweet grass had let go. What is truly remarkable though is that even though there is evidence the basket was previously used and most likely used often, its sidewalls remain intact, as are the upright corners of the basket's sides. Even more miraculous perhaps, is the fact that the bottom corners of the basket's base are all still intact and the bottom corners don't suffer blow-outs or loss, as a result of abuse or from heavy objects being placed in it. It is clear that this wonderful antique splint black ash woven gathering basket was used but never abused.  Stamped repeatedly in a lyrical pattern, with a floral or fern motif from carved, incised potatoes on its sidewalls. It boasts wonderful bright, nearly saturated color and exhibits magnificent form. A simply terrific
Native American
Penobscot Bay, Maine
basket from the
Eastern Woodland Native tribes
who once inhabited that region. The basket was not found with a lid and it hasn't been touched and remains in much the same way it was when it was found and removed from the
western Massachusetts
estate it was taken from. It was only very gently dusted with an artist's soft red sable brush to remove built up dust and silt embedded in the recesses of the weave. An extraordinary gift from the 19th century to the 21st century, reminding us of who we once were and from where we came. Splendid.
CONDITION:
Good to Very Good overall antique condition.