Opinions Please On This Vintage Native American Basket

[MilitariaCollector]

Can anyone tell me what exactly do I have here? I bought this from a flea market vendor who does house clean outs. He had this along with several other Native American artifacts, but this looked the oldest among his items. Also, given its condition, and utilitarian usage and dull appearance, this may probably have the greatest chance of being authentic/old compared to the other items he had. Anyhow, the basket originally had a diameter of about 15” (about 14.5” now with part of the top rim missing) and measures about 4” tall. Can anyone tell me if it is:

1) Authentic?
2) Native American?
3) What tribe?
4) About how old?
5) What was it used for, or was it made for tourists?
6) Any value/desirability to collectors?

Thanks!

 

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[Saguache]

Looks like it may have potential. Only way to know for sure is to have it examined by a knowledgeable appraiser to answer your questions.

 

[joshuaream]

I agree, that looks like an old, well made basket. You really need to show it to an expert, depending on the inner coil (sumac, willow, pine, wisteria, etc.) and outer coils (yucca, devil’s claw, grass, reeds, etc.) experts can often identify the area/group that made the basket and identify an age range.

Is it still coming apart? Condition impacts value quite a bit, and depending on the weave/knots some baskets will continue to unravel over time (it could get worse with little vibrations in your house.)

 

[Al D]

Being old does not automatically make it collectable, your piece lacks any defining pattern or design, making it less desirable and more difficult to associate with any particular tribe or ethnic group, this item, having been taken out of its natural context, has very little anthropological value.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Mexican tourist piece circa 1967. Best of luck!

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

Mexican tourist piece circa 1967. Best of luck!

I frequent this forum to learn a little bit...care to elaborate?

 

[unclemac]

winnowing basket perhaps

https://www.google.com/search?q=win...TQIHdpEBDwQ_AUIEygC&biw=1536&bih=754&dpr=1.25

one thing i was told by an old indian basket collector was that a true, made and used basket, would be able to hold water.

 

[Al D]

The coil core material is too large, too thick, an ancient authentic basket would have a core material which was built up from thinner pieces of reedlike grass.

 

[Al D]

Looks like it may have potential. Only way to know for sure is to have it examined by a knowledgeable appraiser to answer your questions.

Great signature, haha

 

[Terry Soloman]

I frequent this forum to learn a little bit...care to elaborate?

My Mom had them all over the house. Every time she went to Mexico she came back with more. Used to give them to her girlfriends. They are useless as actual bowls or containers.

 

[MilitariaCollector]

Thanks for the info. I can now see how this could be a 1960s tourist item from Mexico, as the other “Native American” items the vendor had with it did not look that old or authentic either. I would have thought it would have been more decorated as a tourist piece, but it was probably a low price souvenier when it was made.

Terry, do you still happen to have any of the baskets that your mom brought back from Mexico by chance?

 

[Terry Soloman]

No, my brother has all that stuff out in Idaho. I'll ask him to snap a couple of photos, but don't hold your breath, as people in Boise move a lot slower than the rest of us!