Featured Woven Bottle-- NA?

Discussion in 'Tribal Art' started by Potteryplease, May 3, 2025.

  1. Potteryplease

    Potteryplease Well-Known Member

    This 7" tall (18cm) Heinz bottle has the number 132 on the bottom. According to this website, that dates between 1918-1933.

    https://sha.org/bottle/pdffiles/Heinzbottlecodes.pdf

    Of course the weaving part could always have been done later.

    Does anyone know a tribe / culture whose weaving style this bottle demonstrates?

    I found one similar online that said Skokomish, which is western Washington state, but I couldn't verify that attribution.

    Thanks for any help!

    Found at an estate sale in Portland, Oregon.

    IMG_3558.jpeg IMG_3559.jpeg IMG_3560.jpeg IMG_3561.jpeg IMG_3562.jpeg
     
  2. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Covering bottles with basketry was a common technique in the northwest region. The material used on your bottle, particularly as it appears on the rim, looks like raffia. In the early 20th century some of the groups in western Washington such as the Quinault, Chehalis and Skokomish began to use imported raffia in their baskets, so this may be an example of such. This article describes Chehalis weavers adopting raffia, and weaving "more plain twine baskets with simple banded designs" -

    https://arthurwerickson.com/pages/b...dWsASYsJvJYHISta6oIwO6ak8CzWDDZGZkHq_0nL3I6o3
     
    mirana, verybrad, laura9797 and 4 others like this.
  3. Potteryplease

    Potteryplease Well-Known Member

    Thanks @2manybooks!

    I think you may be right. The material is tough-- it's not torn, abraided, or broken much, as I might expect with grass or other NW materials.

    But now that I think of it, raffia can fray pretty commonly....
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2025
    laura9797, Any Jewelry and komokwa like this.
  4. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    I think where it is tightly twisted in the twining it may be less prone to fraying but at the rim where it is looser and more subject to wear it might be more of a problem. The author of the article I attached notes that the raffia is subject to fraying. I have one in my collection very similar to this one that he shows -
    upload_2025-5-3_23-7-1.png
    and the rim and handle are quite a mess.
     
  5. Potteryplease

    Potteryplease Well-Known Member

    Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.

    In looking closely at it, I think it is raffia.

    And as Arthur Erickson notes in that article you linked, specific attribution may not be possible.
     
    2manybooks, laura9797 and Any Jewelry like this.
  6. Taupou

    Taupou Well-Known Member

    Problem is, although this basket uses raffia, neither the Quinault, Chehalis, or the Skokomish used this particular combination of twining, start, or rim finish on their baskets. I would say this is not typical of any Native American work.

    (Arthur Erickson is the expert on Pacific Northwest baskets, and i have found him very helpful in identifying them. You might want to contact him. He lives in the area, and has recently opened a new gallery, not on Taylor street, where it used to be.)
     
    mirana, 2manybooks and Potteryplease like this.
  7. Potteryplease

    Potteryplease Well-Known Member

    Again, appreciate the comments.

    I've actually talked with Arthur several times, as he was until recently a dealer at the same antique mall as me. He's always gracious and helpful. Maybe I'll take this bottle in to his new gallery next time there.

    Thanks again!
     
    2manybooks and komokwa like this.
  8. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Potteryplease likes this.
  9. Potteryplease

    Potteryplease Well-Known Member

    Some similarities there. Thanks 2mb. 'Antique. 1940s'.... the cork at least, and the weaving too, don't look 100 or even 80 years old though.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted
Similar Threads: Woven Bottle--
Forum Title Date
Tribal Art birthday woven box Sep 4, 2025
Tribal Art like to ask your help in determining the origins of this woven tapestry Jan 27, 2025
Tribal Art Flat Woven Item, Native American or Asian? Oct 19, 2023
Tribal Art Woven wrapped 9” bottle. Native American? or? Jul 9, 2022
Tribal Art Finely woven baskets. Look Native American? Apr 10, 2022

Share This Page