EARLY to MID 20TH CENTURY NATIVE AMERICAN PASSAMAQUODDY, MAINE, EASTERN/COASTAL WOODLAND TRIBE, HAND WOVEN SWEET GRASS, 

ROUND CARVED WOOD TOP HOOP & TWIN WOODEN HANDLE GATHERING BASKET, featuring VEGETABLE DYED DECORATIVE SWEET GRASS MIDDLE BANDS, in OLIVE & ORANGE COLORS

(Circa 1935-1955)

Early to mid 20th century Native American Passamacuoddy tribe of Penobscot, Maine (eastern coastal woodland tribes) hand woven, sweet grass gathering baskets

DIMENSIONS:

 5 ½" (sidewall) Height, 7 ½" Height (with handles) 

x 12 ½" Width 

  Weight: 9.7 oz.

DESCRIPTION:

Offered is this recently discovered Native American steam bent, round wooden handle, shallow, round gathering basket, found with four other similar baskets, dating from the early to mid 20th century, circa 1935 to 1955. This Native American sweet grass, hand-woven basket was made by the Passamacuoddy tribe of Penobscot Bay, located in eastern, coastal Maine. It has a mellow honey/amber finish and two round, steam bent, wooden side lifting handles. The gathering basket also features a double steam bent, looped wooden top rim, woven together with fine sweet grass, sandwiched between the ash hoops. There are no repairs (old or new) to the basket. It's now from between 65 to 85 years old and would have to be considered to still be in well-preserved overall vintage condition. The woven, twisted sweet grass body has minimal loss and a naturally aged, soft, mellow honey and amber color patina. The mid-section of the round basket features thin olive vegetable dyed bands of sweet grass, surrounding a wider orange colored central band, all of which circumnavigate the girth of the basket. The wooden handles aren't twisted or deformed and don't suffer from any wood loss, chips or fractures. Simply amazing. Made by Native American hands. Terrific and unmitigatedly beautiful. Great form and color. Very nice.

CONDITION: 

Good to Very Good overall vintage condition.