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Basket

Datec. 1850
DimensionsOverall: 12 × 16 1/2 in. (30.5 × 41.9 cm)
Object numberT0194
Credit LineGift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw
Photograph by John Bigelow Taylor, NYC
Label TextAlthough woven for utilitarian purposes, this Tlingit basket balances functionality with artistic embellishments in the designs and patterns. The basket weaving process began with the gathering of materials, some of which could only be collected during a specific time of year. Once the raw materials were gathered, weavers spent hours refining them to make them pliable.

Geometrically patterned basketry is a very old tradition, and the style may represent a specific historic region. The basket was made to be flexible, as it was folded flat and stored when not in use. On this basket, the creases from folding are faint but still noticeable.
Exhibition History"Art Des Indiens D'Amerique Du Nord Dans La Collection D'Eugene Thaw," Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, Somogy Editions D'Art, January 21, 2000 - March 18, 2000.

"Art of the American Indian: The Thaw Collection," The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, March 2, 2010 - May 30, 2010; Minneapolis Museum of Art, Minneapolis, MN, October 24, 2010 - January 9, 2011; Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX, April 24, 2011 - September 23, 2011; Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN, December 4, 2011 - February 12, 2012.

"American Indian Art from the Fenimore Art Museum: The Thaw Collection," The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, May 9, 2017 - October 8, 2017.

"American Indian Art from the Fenimore Art Museum: The Thaw Collection," Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Utica, NY, October 13, 2018 - December 31, 2018.

"American Indian Art from the Fenimore Art Museum: The Thaw Collection," Mitchell Gallery, St John's College, Annapolis, MD, February 28, 2020 - April 26, 2020.
Provenancede Menil Collection, Houston, Texas; Stefan Edlis, Chicago, Illinois; George Terasaki, New York City
BibliographyPerriot, Francoise, and Slim Batteux, trans. Arts des Indiens d'Amerique du Nord: Dans la Collection d'Eugene et Clare Thaw. Paris, somogy edition d'Art, 1999, p. 131, fig. 106.

Vincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, p.388.

Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 444.
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5798 STATE HIGHWAY 80
COOPERSTOWN NY, 13326
607-547-1400

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