Coiled basket
19th century
A well-used berry basket of a practical size for children harvesting fruit from the bush. A woven strap (cebated) secured the basket to the waist. Blackberries, salmonberries, and huckleberries were handpicked or collected using a comb-like implement. Harvesting places were returned to year after year.
Acquired in 1899 by James Wickersham, a member of the Washington State House of Representatives and later Territorial Governor of Alaska, this piece was one of more than 500 artifacts in his "Indian Relic Collection" dispersed after his death in 1939. Wickersham's habit of documenting acquisitions-evident from the original tag affixed to the basket-was unusual for that time but immensely valuable to us today in distinguishing the origin because of the similarity of basketry styles among Puget Sound groups.
Coiled cedar root; imbricated with bear grass, horsetail root, and leather
5 1/2 x 6 3/4 in. (14.0 x 17.1 cm)
Gift of the Native American and Oceanic Arts Council and friends in memory of John Putnam
2001.1048
Provenance: James Wickersham, collected 1899; Nugget Shop, Juneau, Alaska, after 1939; Peter Corey, Sitka, Alaska, about 1965; Jack Curtwright, Tacoma, Washington, 2001
