Cultivating a Collection - Baskets

More in Cultivating a Collection - Baskets

Basket weaving is one of the widest spread craft in history of any human civilization and I dare say one of the oldest.  I'm sure while Eve was whippin' up a fig leaf dress, she thought...I could make something to carry my apples in...ahahha.   This is funny, but could be true.  

Baskets are often identified by the culture that made it in material and style.  Some baskets were made for use, ceremony and as art (decoration).  Using what one found in nature, weaving, bending and twisting into a usable shapes:

1.  Coiled Basketry - grasses, rushes, pine needles

2.  Plaiting Basketry - palms, yucca, flax

3.  Twining Basketry - roots, bark

4.  Wicker/Splint Basketry - reed, cane, willow, ash, oak

There are numerous names for baskets too:  market, gathering, bread, bushel, fruit, bonnet, egg, fishing, bannock, grain, hampers, laundry, sewing, funeral, buttock, trappers and this is only to name a few.  Baskets are also identified by the Indigenous, who were masters at making them.  

(from Wisconsin Museum website)

We have Winnebago/HoChunk ones here in my area, as tribal women traded for other goods and sold them.  In fact, Wisconsin Dells, was actually not only "put on the map" for it's natural beauty and rock formations, but also by the artistic basketry from the Winnebago.  I recently read a book about Wisconsin women.  I was delighted to learn that it was these Indigenous and ingenious women who started trading in a "fair" atmosphere.  Now, I always thought my "resale/trading/flea marketing" abilities came from my Grandpa Kincaid - but, could be my Ritchie side too.  My great (Clara) and great, great ("Old Bam") Grandmas who were Potawatomi made baskets.   I can imagine that they sold and traded them too.  

Here is a picture of "Old Bam" which may be intrepted as "Old Bear" according to my brother, but we aren't sure.    However, I like to think it, because I'm a mama bear too.  The next few pictures are of my Ritchie family too.

My Great Grandma Clara as a younger girl.

The couple in the middle are my Great Grandparents, Clara and Henry.  Standing in back of Clara is my Grandpa Valentine, next to him is my Great Uncle Harry.  The little girl between my Great Grandparents is my Aunt Verol and the baby is my Aunt Ruth on my Grandma's (Marie) lap.

My Grandma Ritchie is standing on the far right the first little girl is my Aunt Ruth, then my Aunt Verol and my dad (what a cutie) in front of her.  

In this one, my Aunt Verol is eldest, my dad next to her, my Uncle Wally is the baby and my Aunt Ruth is standing next to my Great Grandpa Henry.  My dad's name is Henry too.

Here is my Great Grandpa Henry splitting wood on a schindelbank for making baskets.  We had 1 basket he made for my dad in our family.  My dad put it out every Easter with his naturally died eggs of onion skins and berries.  When my parents passed on, my eldest brother Henry was given this as the patriarch of our family.  It was/is very special!  

Baskets are timeless.  Used in every decade, era, decorating and design since beginning of time.  2021 is no different.  No farmhouse would be complete without an egg or gathering basket.  No "BoHo" she shed would be complete without a wall vignette of assorted baskets.  No cabin would be complete without a trappers or market basket next to the fireplace.   

Baskets have and will stand the test of time and trend.  So....

"Tisket, Tasket, Wanna Buy a Basket" Sale, tomorrow, February 27, 2021 at 9:30 am.  Link here:  Town Hall Trinkets Online Estate Sale

Do you have any heirloom baskets?  Please comment and let us know.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Linked to:  My Thrift Store Addiction -  vintage charm party