Indigenous American barrel-shaped Sweetgrass Basket

Indigenous American barrel-shaped Sweetgrass Basket

Basket and lid, very small barrel shaped, flat bottom, made of braided sweetgrass or twine, and perhaps ash strips, with a blue card inside, probably from Smart Studio, reading "Antique Penobscot Indian Sweetgrass Basket, late 1800s, $55". This may be one of several Indigenous American basketry items collected by Mary E. Shaw (Mrs. Norman Shaw) ca. 1980-2000, who ran the Dancing Deer gift shop in Bar Harbor. She eventually sold them to Wini Smart's daughter, Gail, (per Mrs. Shaw visit 9/25/14).