Featured 2of2 Basket Native?

Discussion in 'Tribal Art' started by Happy!, Aug 5, 2026 at 2:42 PM.

  1. Happy!

    Happy! Well-Known Member

    Really like the workmanship on this one. Was found in an old trunk with the other one. This one google images out to possibly be a Pacific NW coast Makah tribe basket. "Such baskets were frequently produced between 1900 and 1940 for both personal use and trade." This does seem older, but the cornucopia horn-of-plenty design is throwing me--cannot find one with that design so far. Has a rose motif on the other side. About 6.75" diameter on the bottom. Thank you for your help.
    20260802_172431 1000.jpg 20260802_172443 1000.jpg 20260802_172504 1000.jpg 20260802_172553 1000.jpg 20260802_172447 1000.jpg
     
  2. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    Winner , Winner , Lobster dinner......................:woot::woot:

    She's a beauté ....:happy:

    Makah, knob top...( don't grab it by the knob !!!!!!!!!!!..)
    Good tight weave , good rim stitching, nice lid fit , excellent colors, lovely design !!!!!!
    The designs are unique enuf...
    I'd say , sea critter of some sort , & then , geometrics I don't understand !:inpain:
    ( and if I can't read them....G-d bless anyone who can !!!;).)
    The Makah.....coastal fishermen ...... so the top design , is a wave !

    The size......that's big for a trinket basket !!!!!!!!!!!!!

    The colors are strong , so it hid from the sunlight all this time !

    Around 1900 the Makah changed their designs from traditional geometrics to a more European friendly assortment of realistic images , which helped foster the tourist markets appetite .
    This one is still a little transitional.
    Also , earlier baskets of this type , had more grass on the base covering the red cedar checkerboard weave. As time went on , the grass became too time consuming and the cedar became dominant , covering most of the base.

    I'd be fine putting this little gem in the circa 1910 range , give or take 5 years...
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2026 at 7:15 PM
  3. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    on a personal note........ that's the kind of basket you really want to find !!!!!!!!

    It won't go cheap.......but worth keeping too !!!
     
  4. Happy!

    Happy! Well-Known Member

    Thank you, thank you so much! Oh my goodness I am so excited! I was hoping you would give it a look see since it is NW. So maybe not a cornucopia at all! A serpent or mermaid would be so romantic. We will need to sell it at some time. EBay does not appear to have one quite like this. I know asking for value is a no no here. But how about a rough range in your learned opinion? Are there some specialty sites or auction sites you might recommend for this type of basket @komokwa?
     
  5. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    I knew you would gush over this one. Beautiful basket!
     
  6. cxgirl

    cxgirl Well-Known Member

    great find Happy, it is beautiful:)
     
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  7. bosko69

    bosko69 Well-Known Member

    Absolute knockout- I can see why you're Happy !
    I'd love to know the 'backstory'-so you bought a trunk and these happened to be hiding inside, or is it an old family heirloom ?
    No trade secrets,just how the fates gifted it to you.
     
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  8. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    you measure the widest point by the tallest point....

    I have my personal views on what these baskets should cost........

    but here is my professional view...:greedy:

    While it's not in my hand , from the pics I would call it 'near mint'..
    I see no warping or damage , other than a flea bite on a stitch or two.
    The size , is a big plus..
    The age , is highly valued.... and it's as nice as anything I'm currently seeing right now.

    Retail...at a smart Gallery... US $ 800
    Auction estimate ............... US $ 500 - 650
    1st Bids ............................ US $ 925
    eBay ................................ US $ 650

    It's just that good a basket...........imho ...

    my personal opinion.... cut % 20 off the top of these prices.....

    What you hope to get from it , is none of my business , but I stand by my take on things as I've laid them out for you.!

    All that said, it could go higher , it could go lower...... all depending on who's looking and when and where it gets offered....

    Komo
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2026 at 7:17 PM
    Potteryplease and Roaring20s like this.
  9. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    most trinket baskets one finds nowadays..... 2x4 , 3x5 , even 4x6 inches...., larger than that , in this condition , with a lovely design...... getting harder and harder to come by !!
    If one needs an antique Makah trinket basket , to fit into their collection.. this one has all the attributes !!:woot::woot::woot:

    I've had larger ones , but seldom better !;)
     
    Potteryplease likes this.
  10. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    interesting one , I can get my hands on quickly........... ( boy do I got a lot o' pics..)

    12 inch Nootka ... 1910 , give or take...

    . bigmaka2.JPG bigmaka3.JPG bigmaka4.JPG bigmaka5.JPG bigmaka6.JPG

    if I had kept that...I'd list it at $ 1750 US today..... and it would last .. a week !
     
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  11. Potteryplease

    Potteryplease Well-Known Member

    Yeah that's a beauty! It's in first-rate condition, which is huge!
     
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