Featured Help enhance/interpret signature on a basket, please?

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by 2manybooks, Dec 23, 2024.

  1. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    @Aquitaine, et al - I just acquired a Gullah sweetgrass basket that has a very faint signature on the bottom. I am hoping some of you with better skills might be able to do your magic and render it legible.

    Below are two views with slightly different lighting angles. I can make out "6 8 3" on the stitches of one of the coils, which I assume is a date - June 1983. On the second coil above that line are more letters on both the stitches and the grass in between the stiches. I assume this would be the name of the weaver, but it is very faint. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

    Gullah basket signature - 1 small.jpg

    Gullah basket signature - 2 small.jpg

    Here is the entire basket -

    Gullah basket - 1 small.jpg
     
  2. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    I can read 683 if that helps.
     
  3. Roaring20s

    Roaring20s Well-Known Member

  4. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Yes, thank you. That is also what I was able to read so far.
     
    i need help likes this.
  5. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Thank you. Still indistinct, but perhaps others can see more than I can.
     
    i need help and Roaring20s like this.
  6. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

    Well done for seeing this in the first place. Or do some weavers often sign like this and you knew to look for it? I think this will be very difficult (unless someone just recognises the signature from memory/experience) A part from the date the few letters I think I can make out makes no sense (sorry)
     
    Aquitaine, i need help and 2manybooks like this.
  7. Roaring20s

    Roaring20s Well-Known Member

    Maybe try a UV light?
     
    i need help and 2manybooks like this.
  8. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    On the stitches I think I see CIC CI. I can't see what is in between the stiches, so even if what I see is correct, it is incomplete.
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2024
  9. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Yes, I have seen signatures on sweetgrass baskets before and, prompted by my partner who asked "Are they ever signed?", I peered at it more closely. But it may be too far gone to recover. :(
     
    Potteryplease and Any Jewelry like this.
  10. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

  11. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Good suggestion. I will try that and report back. Busy doing Christmas baking today, though.
     
    Any Jewelry and Potteryplease like this.
  12. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    I think @Roaring20s pulled out what he could the BEST!!! NOT happy with anything I tried!! NO matter inverting or any different color or contrasting settings!

    BASKET SIG.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2024
    Roaring20s and Potteryplease like this.
  13. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Thank you for trying!

    I did try UV light this evening, but it was not able to improve on what Roaring accomplished.
     
    Roaring20s and Aquitaine like this.
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