Antique PNW Native Hand Woven Trinket Basket with Whale Design, Mini.

Beautiful Vintage Pacific Northwest Coast Indigenous Nootka Miniature Twined Basket.

This piece is made with natural grass and a cedar start. This native basket has a twinned whale design on either side of the basket.

Since 1979, the Nootka are now known as the Nuu-chah-nulth. Skillfully made by women, twining sea grasses and inner-bark from a cedar tree. In the Nuu-chah-nulth language, these are known as “pika-uu” which translates as Trinket Basket. These smaller or miniature ones were usually specifically made for trading.

Similar examples can be seen at the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver and the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria.

Measures approx. 2” Wide x 1-5/8” Tall.

Condition: The basket is used and is in good condition considering age (rough estimate - 60-80 years. The lid and basket rim have some slightly misshapen parts as shown, nothing serious - displays well as-is. Typical fading of the colored portions on the exterior. Please see all photos for more details.