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"I am trying to find information
on the making of the Double Woven River Cane baskets made by the Cherokee and Chitimacha.
"
RIVERCANE
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People who fill their homes with
baskets in every corner of every room (I know you're out there) need no excuse for seeking
out just one more basket. I would like to share some of the Internet based resources for
collecting newly or recently woven baskets. You may not actually order online, although
it's possible in many cases, but you can use these resources to narrow down your quest
before you hop in the car or book your next flight.
If you appreciate North American
Indian baskets, numerous galleries and tribal associations offer newly created baskets
representative of the cultural heritage of each group. Hopi Market sells coil plaques
and baskets made on Second Mesa Villages. They also provide a profile of the artists who make
each piece. Melissa
Darden's Chitimacha Rivercane Baskets is another of many tribal marketplaces that have
set up shop on the Internet.
Galleries often represent traditional
basket artists. Four Winds Craft Guild
offers Nantucket Lightship Baskets, as well as Scrimshaw purse tops and basket
accessories. Many active contemporary basket
artists are represented by galleries
as well. Master Navajo basketmakers from the Black family are represented by Twin Rocks Trading Post. You can purchase many wonderful baskets by dealing with a knowledgeable
gallery or dealer.
Individual basketmakers often offer their work on the
Internet. Robert Haygens offers his work in White Oak baskets and
Yellow Poplar Bark containers.
Irene M. Ames of IMA
Basket offers her Sweetser type Ash baskets, including a cradle, creel and pack
basket.
Dorothy Stone profiles her
coiled Pine needle baskets. Willow baskets by Bonnie Gale are available from
English Basketry Willows.
Tara Prindle of Waaban Aki Crafting
offers birch bark containers, coiled pine needle baskets, twined corn husk bottles and
numerous basketry related gifts and accessories. Beth Peterson and Mark Kelz
craft exquisite Ash baskets with carved figural handles. Jonathan Kline offers a selection of painted
and natural finish, traditional black ash woodsplint baskets.
Perhaps you are looking for something
a little more mundane. Bee Commerce offers a straw bee skep
which would be a lovely addition to your garden or decor. If you are looking for a laundry or
picnic basket try Somerset Willow
Co. or try one of the other resources listed in my picnic
basket feature.
Whether you are looking for a museum
quality piece of basket art or just a functional container to use around the house, there
are myriad opportunities to make the connection to the piece you want via the Internet. Be
certain that you are just as discriminating about your choice of a basket chosen from long
distance as you would be in person. Most sites have email addresses so that you can
initiate a discussion with the vendor about the basket you are considering. Ask questions
about the quality and construction of the piece. Be certain to ask about the maker of the
basket. You are really buying a piece of the maker when you buy a basket and it is
valuable to know as much as you can about the person as well as their work.
Galleries, conferences, guild events,
Indian Powwows, teachers, craft school gift shops, suppliers' retail shops and Internet
vendors can all be sources of desirable baskets. The netlinks on
BasketMakers will point
you to many of them. Use the netlinks for a jump-off point for your own shopping foray.
Come and Join
in the BasketMakers
Forum. Lots of friendly basketweavers are gathered there. Click
on "Guest"
to enter and read-only or join if you want to post (it's free).
Here is a list of some of the most recent Topics being discussed:
Copyright
© 1998-2007
Susi Nuss. All rights reserved.
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