IS THIS A WEDDING BASKET?

Have several baskets I need help with, I have been told it is a Navajo wedding basket, but I really do not know, If it is has anyone any idea of age, I myself have had it for approx 15 yrs, Thank you for any help you may be able to give.

 

It's not Native.....but an offshore item meant to look native..

here's the real deal, and what the weave should look like.


Taupou, will be along to tell you where yours is from.

 

Thank you, sob sob, but am interested in knowing where it is from.

 

It's from the Indus Valley, in Pakistan. The area focuses on creating baskets "inspired by" American Indian designs, at a much lower price. In other words, fake Indian baskets, designed to deceive. And there are probably a hundred or more design and patterns available (many on eBay!)

They are imported by the boatload, and sold widely throughout the Southwest. I've seen them in galleries, trading posts, souvenir stands, flea markets, gas stations, and even in a shop right off Rt 66 at Santo Domingo Pueblo. (With no mention that they are not locally made.) They come with paper tags that are easily removed, and usually are, before they are offered for sale.

They are sold wholesale through such companies as Amer-I-Mex, and El Paso Saddle Blankets. You can check their web sites for the most common designs.

 

thank you Taupou, any ideas on these, little red one has been used for straight pins probably a tourist item.

 

The blue and tan one, and the similar tan one with the same construction are both Mexican, from the Toluca Valley, identified by the wrapped stitches separating the coils.

The basket in the second photo is Native American Indian. It's a coiled yucca basket, Papago (Tohono O'odham), from southern Arizona.

The tiny red one is not Native American, it is what is commonly called an "Arts and Crafts Movement" basket, made by non-Indian weavers. The materials and construction (raffia, and that particular stitch joining the coils...where a stitch wraps over two coils, joining them, leaving a tiny space between) is not a combination of material and technique used by Native American basket makers. It's probably the only one of the four that was not made for the tourist market. It was most likely made as a crafts item, possibly from a kit, just for the maker's own use. These were seldom sold commercially.

 

Wow you are THE BEST. Thank you so much, will post more later if that is ok, again thank you.

 

Glad I could be of help, and looking forward to more photos. I am going to be gone the last week in March through April 12 (road trip through Arizona and New Mexico, and a lot of it out of internet service), so before or after would be best.

 

Well Nurse, at least one is NA.

Taupou, that sounds like lots of fun.
Watch out for flash floods, & hit every pawn shop you can find ...!!

 

Yes indeed, and I think have more Papago, 2 more pics and this is it until I get more down from top of closet.

 

no papago there..!
I think you're back to Pakistan ...

 

Unfortunately, yes, it's one of those Pakistani fake "Indian" baskets. But it's a good thing to post, because people need to be able to recognize these. There are certainly a lot of them that show incorrectly identified on eBay (and therefore on web searches).

The main thing is to learn to recognize the material, and how Pakistani palm fiber differs from Papago yucca in appearance. And another key, is to remember that Papago baskets do not use dyed colors like turquoise, orange, and purple...only natural tans, browns, and black.

That is complicated by the fact that many African tribes also use natural colors, and sometimes, similar weaving techniques. But they don't use yucca.

The little covered basket is not Papago or Native American, based on the material used, the stitching technique used to join the coils, and the circular start. It also is not a form traditionally used by any Native American basket makers, but often is seen in baskets from the Amazon Basin region in South America, and in the South Pacific islands.

I can't positively say where this one is from. The material joining the lid, and the string handle, looks like sisal of a form of jute. I've seen these recently in thrift shops, but haven't really investigated enough to identify the origin. But not Native American.

 

thank you so much both of you, all except one put in gs pile, tho these Mexican baskets are been listed for pretty hefty prices I notice, however they are probably much older than these 2. on to the next challenge, more baskets I MIGHT AS WELL BITE THE WHOLE BULLET WHILE Iam at it, then pottery, and dolls,

 

All it takes on eBlech is " I was told by a friend..., collector, ...antique dealer...,ect..ect " and you have an offshore basket listed as NA....for $$$$...!!!

 

Yes indeed, I very seldom go there anymore, Here are a few more little items, the little mug is one of the items I was told " this is a good one".lol others am sure are just what my mother would have called dust gatherers,