This small round lidded ash basket with 2 rows of slant curls at basket top, 2 rows of curlicue culs at basket bottom has been mae by Kenny Keezer, Passamaquoddy. It is 2.5" in diameter and 2.5" tall to top of basket lid; 2.75" total height at top of it's double bow handle

All ash used in this piece is undyed and near white. This basket is made of brown ash splints, the traditional material of Maine and Eastern Canadian Wabanaki basketmakers and also incorporates plain tidal sweetgrass to wrap the rim of the basket and used for the braided loops. Tidal sweet grass grows on tidal marshes within view of the Keezer home in the most Northeastern corner of this country... The land and people of the dawn- The Passamaquoddy reserve near Eastport Maine where the dawn hits this country first. The grass here has been picked, dried, combed and braided by Kenny.

There are 32 slant curls on the upper 1/2 of the basket body and there are 16 perfect slant curls on bottom 1/2 of the basket body. The top of the lid has been woven using very tightly and finely braided tidal sweetgrass. The overhanging lid has the bottom rim bound with plain tidal sweetgrass. On the top of the basket (inside) Kenny has placed a braid of sweetgrass like his mother Clara did with most of her baskets. And the bow ribbon handle such as the one on the lid is another signature technique that Clara used on many basket she made.

Kenny Keezer is the youngest son of much honored Clara Neptune Keezer (1930-2016), Passamaquoddy basket maker who was a winner of a NEA 2002 Heritage Fellowship award for her basketry work. Kenny learned basketry from his mother and incorporates many of her signature styles into his work.

Last photo is of Kenny (in orange shirt), his mother Clara Keezer and brother Rocky. A family picture I took on one of my visits to their home in Sipayik. If you would like to know more about Kenny Keezer - visit the Bios section of this website and click on Kenny's name