Note Type
Curatorial RemarksNote
From email correspondence between Margaret Vetare and Ann McMullen of the National Museum of the American Indian in 2002, regarding VC.58.562, attributed to JHS: "This basket is definitely attributable to the make identified as J.H.S. via a number of diagnostic features, including the blue swabbed rim reinforcement, the overall construction details (a set of narrow fitting splints to turn the corner from the base to the walls), and the designs of hearts and chains. Although it is not signed, not all baskets attributed to JHS are, and this may represent his or her earlier work. I'd suggest a date of circa 1860. Besides signing baskets, JHS also occasionally dates them, and the latest I've seen so far is 1876.
All known examples of JHS's basketry incorporate dark indigo and Spanish brown paints, and these can be replicated via the use of commercially available oil paints such as ultramarine and India red or another iron oxide pigment. If some part of the painted design is hidden between the splints, you may be able to detect the original, unfaded colors (or see VC.58.550: the unfaded parts exposed by the damage clearly show unfaded and unworn Spanish brown). Using a concentrated laundry bluing can also work to replicate the blue, since a version of bluing is probably what JHS would have used. When this basket was new, the off-white of the splints would have contrasted sharply to the brownish red and blue colors of the painted design until the splints would have aged to a more golden color.
The splints for this should be black ash, and the rim any kind of maple. This may once have had handles: look at the top of the rim to see if they have broken off."Note Type
General NoteNote
Orginally cataloged as 18th century (1700-1799), the dates have been updated based on the information given by Dr. Ann McMullen in 2002.Note Type
StorageNoteNote
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Van Cortlandt Complex, Ferry House - Keeper's Room/SE
