Exquisite Antique Alaska Child-sized Harvest Basket, MINT

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I found this lovely little basket at the estate sale of a University of Michigan professor. Because of its size and shape, I immediately thought that it might be a child's berry-picking basket, and the appraiser agreed. You can see in the photo that the top edge has been shaped into a "pouring spout" to help empty berries into a larger container.The detailing of this basket is wonderful! It's beautifully made and tightly woven from natural local materials. The appraiser from Value My Stuff thinks the basket was made for sale to tourists by a Tlingit artisan, probably in southeast Alaska. The full text of the detailed appraisal is below, for your convenience.The appraiser dates this basket to the 1940's or 1950's. However, my opinion is that it is at least 100 years old.CONDITION: Excellent; no cracks, odors, insect damage.DETAILS: Original label says "By 60" on one side and "G 3936" on the other side. The label is brown with age; the string has been replaced recently. Measures about 8 inches high; the square base is about 4 inches across. The top edge measures about 6 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches.VALUE MY STUFF APPRAISALValuation Number: V513786-2Guarantee lineAttributed to the Tlingit Native American Tribe of Southeast AlaskaDescriptionThe berry basket is flared at the top, very tightly woven with red and blue horizontal stripes that are spaced in threes. The bottom of the basket has a double-line blue square. The strap, which appears to be spruce root is derived from the spruce tree, is interwoven on two sides in the basket. I believe the basket was crafted by the Northwestern Native American Indians, the Tlingit. The designs on the basket indicate the Tlingit's horizontal designs and the geometric design on the bottom of the basket.The colors of the bands are a weaving technique called "false embroidery" in which pre-prepared colorfully dyed grass strands are warped simultaneously with the horizontal weft strands as it is woven over the vertical warp. The false embroidery never passes to the inside, and this can be seen on your basket, it can only be viewed on the exterior wall of the basket. The z-twining seen on the basket defines a Tlingit basket. The top of the basket is flared making it less difficult when squeezing or pushing part of the flared top when pouring the contents of the basket.Date: 1940's - 1950'sExtra NotesThe berry basket appears never to have been used, it is in such good condition and may have been acquired from a museum collection of deaccession. Deaccession is done when museums no longer want the items or they have more than one of the same item.I believe the basket is a vintage basket. There is also a very good possibility that the basket was purchased in Alaska. The Tlingit Indians make many crafts for consumer consumption. The basket is spruce root; basket making is one of the oldest and most important arts in Tlingit economy. Some of the larger baskets were cook kettles, water jars, drinking cups and food dishes. Some of the very large baskets were used for collecting and storing berries. Traditionally, weaving was done during the quiet winter months.******************** Perky's Return, Shipping, and Feedback Terms ********************MY GOAL has always been to provide great service so that each of my eBay sales results in a happy customer!PLEASE DO YOUR PART: (1) read the whole item description; (2) look at the photos carefully; (3) read our policies; and (4) ask any questions you may have BEFORE you !RETURNS AND REFUNDSThe 14-day return period starts the day you receive your order. If you change your mind and you want to return what you bought, contact me before the return period expires. In that case, you'll be responsible for paying return shipping costs. My money-back guarantee will apply as long as the item is returned in the same condition as it was shipped in, within 14 days of the day you contacted me. What if My Order Arrive... read more

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