Name/Title
Letter from C.S. Hartman to Harry GeorgeEntry/Object ID
Q1430.635.51ADescription
Vol II pg. 51A
Letter from C.S. Hartman, buyer for Grace Nicholson, describing indepth baskets they have and are sending to Harry George for consideration.
November 17, 1911.
Mr. Harry L. George,
201 Saxton Bank Bldg.,
St Joseph, Mo.,
Dear Mr. George,
Since returning to Pasadena I have been unusually busy, new things purchased in the East, besides a lot of imports were here to be unpacked and properly marked. At the same time business has been earlier than ever and Christmas crowds are coming. I told Miss Nicholson all about my St Joseph visit and what a good time I had, thanks to you, and all about your Basket Collection. She hopes to see it some day. You surely are going to do a good thing for St Joseph, and I hope they will give you ample room to display your Baskets and Alaskan material creditably.
Have unpacked Baskets collected in oregon this season, and those purchased from private collections in that section. I have only one Yokonan. It is an old Bakset and split a little around the top. They seem difficult to secure. This one is #4705 and is $12 net.
I have a new flat top cap, secured from the Siltez Reservation, from Indians who claim to be the remnant of the Takilman family. I had one other old one almost the same design, flat top which I sent the Museum. These Indians I believe, in the past, affiliated with the Shastas and their basketry is undoubtedly influenced by that people/ This cap is #3938 - $4.00 net.
I have two other old, very fine Baskets, worth from $50 to $100 each - Karok Acorn storage Baskets, but do not believe that these specimens would be as good for you, as a beautiful Karok, with cover, #3929 at $30 net to you. This is a typical acorn Basket, with the old design, old shape and fine weave.
A small Karok gift Basket 3937 at $6.590 net, is avery handsom specimen and would go well in your collection.
A very beautifully woven, Karok Indian widow’s cap - 3248 - at $4.50 would completet your collection of Karok Baskets, with the exception of an open work carryin Basket 2342 - at $7.00 net. These will finish out your Quoratean Family.
The Coastonan I have saved for you is a very fine specimen purchased in a collection some year ago. It is a great deal older than it looks, as it has been in a house all the while, and makes you a fine specimen at $25 net - #4213 - instead of paying from $75 to $100 for an old brown one perhaps not as well made.
The Esselenian family specimen, made by these Indians at one of the old Missions on the coast, south of San Juan Batiste. Any Baskets of these Mission tribes are very hard to secure. This is a splendid old specimen, well marked #3539 - and is $40 net to you.
Maidu carrying Baskets are difficult to secure. #2256 at $12.50 net is very desirable for your collection.
Hat Creek - 3441 at $12.50 shows the difference in weave and material used by these tribes living so close together.
A little Mono 2912 - at $8.50 net, is a splendid decorated specimen. It is even hard to secure plain carriers.
Miss Nicholson thinks it advisable to send you this lot of Baskets at once. You can remit for them in January, if that is more convenient. The main reason for doing this is that we have two large orders from other museums who are asking for a number of specimens, especially the Esselenian and Costonan. Therefore if you do not care for the Baskets I would consider it a great favor, if you would return them immediately.
We have three old Baskets, one made by Faval at $3.50, one old Basket made at Nantucket at $1.50 net and a scarce one made at Martha’s Vineyard at $2.50 net. Thought these might be interesting to you, as very few of them ever get into the dealers hands; eastern collectors and museums seemingly watch out for them all the time.
I have never had any work of the Coahuiltican and do not know where you would be apt to secure authentic specimens.
The present lot of Baskets, so far as families are concerned, I think are all which we could furnish you. In fact, we would rather buy this class of Baskets than sell them, because it is going to be almost impossible to secure any within a year or two. There might be some private collections in the East, which we know nothing of, which might have some specimens, but we know nearly every private collection in the West, and those collections having such specimens are not for sale.
You can judge somewhat of the value of certain Baskets, which have been made by the Esselenan family, when I tell you that Miss Nicholson sold one lately for $375.00. Even good Mission Baskets from Southern California bring from $30 to $200 each.
With best wishes
C.S. HartmanSubject
Hartman, C.S.
Pasadena, California
Nicholson, Grace
Basket -- Yokonan
Siletz
Cap -- Flat Top
Karok
Basket -- Acorn
Cap -- Widow's
Coastonan
Esselenian
Maidu
Mono
Martha's Vineyard
Nantucket
FayalSubject Person/Organization
Harry L. George Collection
