Fine Old Maine Indian Braided Sweetgrass Notions Basket Start Price USD 150.00 Current Price USD 150.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, September 06, 2008 End Time Saturday, September 13, 2008 Location Port Orange, Florida See more about 'Fine Old Maine Indian Braided Sweetgrass Notions Basket' Description Fine Large Old Maine Indian Braided Sweetgrass Notions Basket Abenaki Braided Sweetgrass and Splint Ash Notions Basket With Sewing Accessories circa 1910 Item Description  Up for auction this Passamaquoddy Braided Sweetgrass and Splint Ash Notions Basket With Sewing Accessories is in super fine condition and it dates to the early 1900’s, It is a little over 8” in diameter and stands almost 4” tall. This supreme example of Native American craftsmanship is a masterwork of braided sweet grass and splint ash. The thin strands of sweetgrass were first braided than woven, creating a basket with an interesting texture. The details are executed masterfully, the bow tie braided sweetgrass handle on the lid is in excellent condition for its age, one loop is missing (see photo) and remarkably the splint ash “cone” centerpiece is perfect. There is row upon row of tiny sweetgrass braids on the lid and sides, and a finely wrapped sweetgrass rim on the lid. The sweetgrass rim is in excellent condition and so is the looped ash that secures it. The dyed splint ash weave on the basket has changed to an orange red on the outside and retains its redness on the inside splints. All in perfect condition no breaks, cracks or splits super fine.  All top notch museum quality. You would be hard pressed to find a better example, the sweet grass is a warm nut brown and the ash is evoling to have a luster. Inside of the basket is excellent. These baskets were made to sell to tourists in the past century, and this one was designed as a fancy gift basket or to hold a tourist lady's sewing notions. There are sewing accessories included with this “sewing basket”, one 2 “ high by 1 ½” wide needle book  w/cloth insert and a needle inside the hinge is a couple of pieces of yarn this book is in excellent condition, one scissor holder measuring almost 3” long and ½” wide at the top in excellent condition, one interesting pattern maker with red dyed ash handle these accessories add cost to this basket they also add value. It is hard to find such an assortment of these items, it is a special opportunity to have all available at once. These are part of a limited resource and quite a wonder to have passed through the century treasured all these years. This is a wonderful Native American artifact with accompanying accessories. We had added all these Northeastern tribe baskets and sewing accessories to our collection by acquiring them from Pie Galiant and Bob Self’s Collection of American folk art  (see some of their basket featured in the collectors guide Folk Art: Paintings, Sculptures & Country Objects in the photo provided ) Because she restored antique quilts she had a fondness for these sewing items, they shared the same antiquity as the quilts and could have been used by the very makers of the quilts she worked on.  I have included a photograph of the collection that will be up for auction … check back later for additional listings.     Origin: Extending across most of northern New England into the southern part of the Canadian Maritimes, the Abenaki called their homeland Ndakinna meaning "our land." The eastern Abenaki were concentrated in Maine east of New Hampshire's White Mountains, while the western Abenaki lived west of the mountains across Vermont and New Hampshire to the eastern shores of Lake Champlain. The southern boundaries of the Abenaki homeland were near the present northern border of Massachusetts excluding the Pennacook country along the Merrimack River of southern New Hampshire. The maritime Abenaki occupied the St. Croix and the St. John's River Valleys near the border between Maine and New Brunswick. New England settlement and war forced many of the Abenaki to retreat north into Quebec where two large communities formed at St. Francois and Becancour near Trois-Rivieves. These have continued to the present-day. There are also three reservations in northern Maine (Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, and Maliseet) and seven Maliseet reserves located in New Brunswick and Quebec. Other groups of Abenaki, without reservations, are scattered across northern New Hampshire and Vermont.   At the time of contact with the first Europeans the many woodland nations covered on area stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi river encompassing the Great Lakes and from the sub- arctic to the Ohio River system. The area was peopled by many small independent groups. All were noted for their expertise with bark, wood and plant fibers. They constructed containers, wove, coiled or twined baskets of twigs, bark, roots or grasses. Braided or sewed mats of bulrushes cattails or cedar bark. Inspired with European contact by new materials and ideas the woodland peoples rapidly developed and produced customary objects for trade among themselves and with the newcomers. These tribes crafted many trade goods, one of their specialties were sewing baskets and sewing accessories. Pin Cushions, needle holders, scissor holders and thimble baskets are among the many items woven in sweet grass and splint ash wood, birch bark and split cedar.  The splint ash wood is a difficult and long process, the black ash is gathered from the swamp and then is pounded so it can be split into strips which are then scraped and cut to the desired thickness. And the materials need to be dyed for any colorful accents.             The Pie Galinat and Bob Self Collection was featured in among others:   The Knopf Collectors’ Guides to American Antiques Folk Art: Paintings, Sculptures & Country Objects Robert Bishop and Judith Reiter Weissman, Michael McManus, and Henry Niemann 1983 Collections “The following individuals, galleries and institutions kindly allowed us to reproduce objects from their collections….. Pie Galinat and Bob Self, New York City: 183,242,245-8,251,253,254,269,273,281,331-335.”   New York Times Home Section Thursday July 3rd 1980.   You can find Pie Galiant in the Directory of Restorers in the book Collecting American Country by Mary Ellisor Emmerling.  1983   New York Times Thursday August 16th, 1984 Hanging fine old Quilts… The article also providing her as source for quilt restoration. And Bob Self for frame construction for hanging quilts.  I am offering up some of my best baskets see what others I currently have up for auction. Today, most active collectors seek the rarest, finest and best examples their budget can afford. I have been collecting artifacts for over 25 years and I have been a member of the EBay community since 1998 - Please Bid with confidence.       · Buyer info: Packaging and shipping is done with care and completed in an expedient manner, shipping days are Tuesday and Thursday for gas conservation. If you have a special request we will do our best to adjust the schedule to accommodate your request. · Combined shipping is not always available due to the delicacy of an artifact. Multiple items will be packaged in a single box only when possible without potential damage to an object. · International buyers can use  Paypal or Xoom as a method for payment.   · It is my intention to be as clear and accurate as possible. In the event I make an error, I will always do my best to remedy the situation. · Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Buyer is responsible for ensuring they read the item description correctly and submit any questions they might have for clarification of the item for sale prior to bidding. I can provide additional photos at the buyers request to assist you in your purchase. · Buyer should contact me within 3 days of auction ending, this assists in the expedient shipping. · Payment must be received within 10 days of auction ending. · Bidders with excessive negative feedback may be blocked. · EBay and Paypal fees are hefty we try to only offer choice items for the serious collector ·  Seller is not responsible for lost or damaged goods. I pack carefully, label clearly, and ship promptly. Once your item is shipped it is out of my control. For this reason shipping insurance will be offered and is recommended   Place a Bid!