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.59.564: " This type of painting is typical east of the Connecticut River, so this basket has traveled a ways to make it into your collection. The colors look like Spanish brown mixed with oil or walnut stain, hence the bleeding. The narrower weft splints are unusual, and suggest a later date or a kind of inactive basketmaking community, so I'd suggest that the date is 1860-1880. Stylistically, it doesn't really look right for one of the main cultural styles, although the colors are right for one of the Pequot communities, as are the dots. If I had to say, I would say Pequot, although it could be Narragansett or Narragansett/Pequot (lots of intermarriages there). Both were making baskets for hard use in local farms, hence the support splints. But I think I can also see at the [base?] the use of a single narrow splint to turn the corner from the base to the wall, as this is a Mohegan marker, whereas Pequots normally used three narrow rows. As a diagnostic trait, this is less hard and fast than some of the decorative markers, but the basket could be Mohegan too just not a great example. The only thing all of this may suggest is that this basket--being from eastern Connecticut--isn't one that would naturally occur within the replicated setting you're working on, so maybe it isn't one you would want to have contemporary basketmakers reproduce."Note Type
General NoteNote
Orginally cataloged as 18th century (1700-1799), but revised in light of the notes given by Dr. Ann McMullen in 2002.Note Type
StorageNoteNote
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Van Cortlandt Complex, Ferry House - Keeper's Room/SE