Extremely Fine 1870s-80s Macah Nootka Bear Grass and Cedar Bark Basket with Indigo Design (Some Damage) shop keeper One clean break in the

One clean break in the cut paper design

and I believe was made to sit on a desk and serve as a pen rest (though there's no wear to show it was used this way)

--I presume the woman at left meant to be a spirit and the woman at right to be of the living

Overall good antique condition with general wear

Extremely Fine 1870s-80s Macah Nootka Bear Grass and Cedar Bark Basket with Indigo Design (Some Damage) shop keeper One clean break in theThis is the finest Makah Nookta, Native American of the Northwest coast, I have ever had in my possession, and I have handled a fair number and looked at many more than that. Hard to judge scale from photos I know, but the weave here is just impossibly tiny and tight. Stunning. And the banded patterns show the most lovely soft indigo blue; the original more intense purple is visible on the interior. 1870s 80s; there is a very good section on the Burke