Name/Title
Letter from F. W. Bohle to Harry L. GeorgeEntry/Object ID
Q1430.634.30nDescription
A 3-page letter from F. W. Bohle to Harry L. George regarding basket purchases and correspondence with Mr. Gutman, about Alaskan and Californian baskets. The yellowed paper is the original of page 1. Vol. I, pg. 30n
Dear Sir:
Wish to thank you for check in payment of Zuni Blanket & your letter of Dec. 16th.
Mailed letter yesterday & returned photographs by registered mail.
Have decided not to write Mr Gutman until I hear from you, relation to contents in yesterday's letter.
As to your letter of Dec. 16th wish to state I rather see you get all the choice Baskets instead the Hudson Bay Co.
Presume Mr. Gutman knows all about Alaskan material but doubt he knows California , Arizona & New Mexico Baskets as you and I now them!
As stated in my first letter I repeat "commercially made to sell" Baskets I did not collect, only such pieces which were actually used by the Indians - I have collected.
By all means - please Resp Photographs of Baskets; the photograph which I enclosed in yesterdays letter I do believe will do for Mr. Gutman.
Dat -sol-la-lee is quite an old squaw, but still working for A. Cohn - Carson City, Nev.
I have the Smithsonian Annual Report of 1902 and consider it the best book on Basketry.
The time this report was issued (1902) Dat -sol-la-lee made the best Washoe Baskets ever known!
Mr Cohn was smart enough to engage Dat -sol-la-lee for good and has her making Baskets for Cohn ever since!
2)
Tourists have aid Cohn big prices for Dat -sol-la-lee's work and when I ask her several years ago 'how much' she replied "You go and see Mr. Cohn-
Cohn's prices were from 20-50-100-200-500-1000 and up to 2500.00 for a single Dat -sol-la-lee Basket, It takes A. Cohn how to make money!
The most interesting part is Cohn does not pay any Money to Dat-sol-la-lee - he just gives her board and lodgings.
But the old Indian Squaw's days are counted and with her passing away - the best Washoe Baskets will do like wine. I understand there are only 2 or 3 other Washoe Basket Makers known - but all are old squaws and rarely weave anymore.
Good old Washoe Baskets are rare and expensive. I have not allowed myself to buy Baskets lately on account of Business Reasons and I make a long story short will say War - conditions are responsible and this is the very reason why I try to sell my Baskets which indeed are dear to me; However my interest in Indian Baskets and other Material is greater than ever and I can't help saying I love my Baskets. Now offered for sale at a most reasonable price.
About twelve years ago I happened to be on the Washoe Reservation about 60 Miles north of Gallup, New Mexico and while hunting for real good Blankets
3)
I found only two good Blanket ??? one is 3 ft 9" and 6½ ft 4" long.
Both pieces are good close weaves and natural dyes and not compared with the goods we find in the Market today.
Am wondering if Mr. Gutman might buy these two good pieces - am only asking 45.00 for the 3 9" x 6½ and 75.00 for the 4 9" x 6 4".
Hoping again to hear from you. I wish you a merry Christmas & remain
Yours trulySubject
F. W. Bohle
Oakland, Cal.
Hudson Bay Co.
Zuni blanket
Dat Sol La Lee
A. Cohn
Carson City, Nev.
Washoe basket
Dat-sol-la-lee
Mr. GutmanSubject Person/Organization
Harry L. George CollectionCollection
Harry L. George Collection
