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.59.563: "This basket is kind of unusual: yellow paints were generally quite expensive and usually used more as an accent [than] as a dominant color. This is probably Chrome yellow and definitely Spanish brown. The stamping is blue/indigo.
In terms of construction and decoration, this basket is also kind of unusual: greater variation in the width of the wefts is more typical of the lower Hudson River Valley and areas east of it, whereas this looks more like it is from the upper Hudson River Valley, meaning above Albany. Mohawk basketmakers living here and in western Vermont used quite a lot of yellow, and this basket reminds me of their work. The basket probably dates somewhere between 1840 and 1880. The other possibility is that it was made by the Stockbridge Mahicans who did not move to Wisconsin after their New York settlement broke up, but rather stayed in the area or returned to western Massachusetts. If it is Stockbridge, it is kind of a poor example: they were great basketmakers.
And this speculative, but it's been my observation over the years that baskets from western Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York decorated with yellow always seem to come from Native communities where there is a significant Christian presence or influence. I am not sure why this might be the case: does it represent '"light" or were those basketmakers simply a little better off and could afford more expensive paints? Someday I'll figure it out and write a paper about it."Note Type
General NoteNote
Originally cataloged as 18th century (1700-1799) but dates changed based on notes given by Dr. Ann McMullen in 2002.
Page 186, Masterson & O'Connell 1987 appraisal says basket is "badly damaged" No value.Note Type
StorageNoteNote
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Van Cortlandt Manor, Lean-to Room
