US Native American Baskets (1800-1934)

US Native American Baskets Made 1800 to 1934

Baskets are some of the most common artifacts to come from Native American cultures. These hand-made items feature plant materials woven into a variety of shapes.

Native American basketry was made for a variety of uses, and their sizes vary accordingly. Some examples of the size and shape of these baskets include:

• Basket bowls: One example of this style is made in California. The small Indian basket is round in shape. At its widest point, it's 4 inches long. It is about 2 3/4 inches tall. Similar Indian basket bowls were also made by the Apache. These measure about 8 inches in diameter and 3 inches in height.
• Basket: These items were made by a variety of cultures. One by the Penobscot or Passamaquoddy people in Maine features a rectangular shape with a triangular piece at the back. Finished with a patina, this Indian basket features wooden slats and is stiffer than the baskets woven from grasses in California.
• Egg basket: These Indian baskets are large and feature handles for ease of carrying. They are finished with a patina. One example of this type of Indian basket is about 9 inches deep. The handle reaches 14 inches in height.

Many of these Native American objects are antiques that date to the 19th or early 20th century. Some artisans still make replicas.

The materials used depend on the region and the time when the basket was made. Native American baskets are typically woven from materials like wood and grass. Other natural and manufactured materials are sometimes used too. For example, some Indian baskets feature trade beads that functioned as money. Others incorporate animal materials, such as feathers. Dyes were also used to create patterns.

• California region: Here, Native American baskets were made of materials like willow, alder, cedar, maple, beargrass, sedge, and wild grape.
• Maine region: Brown ash and sweetgrass were typically used in this region. To use the brown ash, entire logs had to be processed and made into flat, wooden splints.
• Southwest region: Yucca, willow, cottonwood, and rabbitbrush were used. Feathers and buckskin were also sometimes incorporated into designs. Coiled baskets were made in addition to standard woven Native American Indian baskets.
• Alaska: Alaskan weavers used wild ryegrass and beach grass. Spruce root and seagrass were sometimes used too. Some animal materials used in Indian basket making include baleen from whales and ivory from walruses. These were usually made post-1900.
• Southeastern region: Rivercane was used by Indians to make plaited items. Ribbed Indian baskets used pieces of white oak as splits that other materials were passed around. Coiled versions were also made of native materials, including honeysuckle, buckbrush, and grass.