Identifications for basketry on ebay are notoriously unreliable, but this one definitely made me laugh. My first thought when I saw the thumbnail photo for this listing was - Oh, Botswana. Then I read the title - "Large 14.5” Handmade Basket From New Zealand Brown Tan Woven Māori Indian Tribe". I thought, hmm, unless there is an original label attached with this attribution I am dubious. The more detailed description clarified - "This handmade basket was purchased in 1995. It measures 14.5” x 3.5” … I have been told by some on eBay that it is African but my wife says it from the Māori Indian tribe of New Zealand as we purchased it in New Zealand on our honeymoon. I don’t know exactly how old it is but I know it’s at least 30 years old as that’s how long we’ve had it. It is brown tan beige. Excellent condition." Blame the wife......... I have not provided any links, to protect the innocent.
Maori Indians of New Zealand, making baskets! I bet it would be news to the Maoris, that they're African basketmakers from the American southwest.
not this basket ...but...... women weave... when there's something to weave... even maori.. mostly Flax !!!
Ebay sellers have known to cause mass migrations from one part of the world to another before. I'm with the wife, New Zealand has never imported anything. The country has had a total trade ban ever since the first Māori Indians set foot on Aotearoa's soil. In fact there are parts of the country where not even a Māori Indian has ever been.
Tāniko weaving, also used for clothing. I have a tāniko headband, the type that is worn with Māori dress.
A poi dance. The dancers are wearing tāniko headbands and bodices, part of traditional Māori dress. https://www.barnorama.com/intricate...ealands-biennial-national-kapa-haka-festival/
Just to make it clear, New Zealand is a major importer of a variety of goods, from China. the United States, Australia, and, apparently, from various nations in Africa. Trade, after all, has existed for about as long as humans have. One of the most important rules of identifying an item, is never to assume that where something is purchased, may have anything at all to do with where it was made. Like many of the baskets misidentified on ebay, this is African. Besides, there is no such thing as a "Māori Indian tribe". They are Pacific Islanders. Although, if one believes all humanity evolved from Africa, there may be a far-more ancient African connection, other than the basket, itself!
Yup. One prime example, I remember hearing about a Chinese bronze or brass bowl found on a dig of Viking bits in Newfoundland. According to this seller, that means there were Chinese settlers in the Canadian Maratimes!
ya , or the guy who found a Samurai sword in down town Montreal..... and wondered how long Quebec had been making these ...
