Old West & Native American Auction
Lot 1030:
Description
This is a beautiful example of a vintage Native American birch bark basket, likely from a Northeastern Woodland tribe, possibly Ojibwe (Chippewa) or Cree, given the materials and decorative style. The construction is classic, using a single piece of birch bark folded and stitched with spruce root or similar plant fiber to form the body and base. The rim is finished with a wrapped binding, and a braided fiber handle is attached. The exterior is decorated with intricate scraped designs (likely a technique called sgraffito) featuring horizontal bands of geometric patterns, including circles and zigzags or triangular motifs, which are common in historical Great Lakes/Woodlands artistry. It shows characteristic age and use, with the bark having developed a rich, dark brown patina. The fiber handle is worn and frayed in areas, particularly at the connection points and separated on one end. The interior bark is rougher and shows evidence of minor flaking and separation consistent with the age of the natural materials. It’s a charming piece of ethnographic art. H 8.5″, W 8.5″, D 6″ From the Native American display in Donley’s Wild West Town.
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