Posted 12 years ago
ahnacollec…
(1 item)
I said a lot in the description title but I obviously have to write here also or the computer gods won't let me move forward.
This basket is not even close to the basket that my mother gave me. I will find the photo of it (or maybe take another). I used to display it on a round wood base with a clear glass dome covering it. Now I keep it stored away from sunlight as the color in the threading has faded. The colored thread is darker inside the basket than it is outside now. bummer, I didn't know til' it was too late, my bad.
This item shows as an Unsolved Mystery because there was no correct category for Native American Art. And there is a lot of it. The most famous Unangan basket weaver was Mrs. Anafesia Shapsnikoff or "Little Gramma" as she was known by most of Alaska. She spent the summer of 1968 at our house (my parents) in So Cal and she taught me how to weave Attu baskets. She was fabulous and went to Washington D C back when my tribesmen as well as all other Alaskan Natives were interned during WW2 the same time the Japanese were interned. But we were American Citizens, perhaps the first as our history goes back 9,000 years. Much longer than the Egyptians. Imagine that. Mystery solved! Google 'Aleuts interned', it's something you probably never even knew happened during the war. At least 1/2 of our population died during the 3 1/2 year imprisonment. It's hard for them to talk about. My mother passed 20 years ago and I can't ask her the questions I'd like to ask, and she never spoke about it. Nor do her surviving sisters, friends, etc. I wish I would have listened better when she DID speak of it. dammit. Wake up kids, life is way too short. Knowledge is Power. Power allows sushi and a Mercedes, hahaha. No...really.
I never knew this... what a sad part of our US history. But a good lesson... ask the questions while our loved ones are still with us. My mom is 99, and I ask her stuff all the time. Wish I'd asked more questions of my grandparents!
Have old irish fish trap, tread was a differnt color because it was soaked in water for a while so it could be worked.Love it well done peterN.lucky you.
I love Attu basketry, it is so intricate and looks so fragile. Yet strong and stands the test of time. I wish I were able to afford to own a basket like that.. I do have a good collection going though and I have a few Alaskan baskets I treasure.