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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Taupou, post: 4497512, member: 45&quot;]Yes, Tlingit rattletops were made primarily for the tourist trade, which in this case, dates back to the 1890s.&nbsp; It was also about the time that aniline dyes first became available to the weavers, which allowed them to create even more outstanding baskets.</p><p><br /></p><p>Being made for the &quot;tourist trade&quot; isn&#039;t a bad thing.&nbsp; It&#039;s actually made it possible for so many traditional crafts to be continued.&nbsp; Once the local stores started carrying the utilitarian items which made life easier, it was no longer strictly necessary for the handcrafted items to be made.&nbsp; However, the tourist market provided buyers, and a source of income for the indigenous craftspeople, and by simply slightly altering the forms they produced, the craft itself was maintained.</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;d add that Tlingit baskets are very fragile, and break/crack easily, which is one reason there aren&#039;t many around today. Especially in fine condition![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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