Fine Antique Pima basketry cup with pedestal

ca. 1920

3 1/4" h x 2 5/8"; willow and devils claw; very fine weave

Excellent Condition

About the collectors in the family:

I think my grandparents George & Anna Siemantel acquired the majority of the pieces. She loved the pottery. He rugs & jewelry. He had an auto dealership during the war and did a lot of trading in NM. He also was foreman for the railroad roundhouse in Las Vegas NM. (He was from Topeka KS and she from Ft. Madison IA) In addition, the two of them and my great uncle, Phillip Schlapp owned a ranch in NE NM. It is now the Elliot Barker Girl Scout Ranch at Angel Fire NM. Phillip & Anna were 2 of 7 siblings. One of the other sisters taught in Watrous NM. And she & her siblings traveled in the summer. I think a lot of the baskets were their acquisitions.

Also my mom & aunt Margaret knew Mabel Dodge Lujan & there was a connection to Frida Lawrence. But darn! I remember talk when I was a kid. Wish I'd had more of an idea of the interest. I remember my aunt's excitement sharing with my mom that Mabel had written to her.