Antique Indian School Basket

2 1/2" x 5 1/2"

Early 20th century

Raffia and willow.

Indian School or Kit Baskets were common from 1900-1930 and were promoted within schools teaching Native children. They were encouraged to weave patterns of their parents baskets yet the construction techniques and materials are not traditional. The kits were also sold to non-Native buyers as a craft and it is often impossible to determine if these are native or non-native made. This basket came from a collection in San Diego, and there were quite of lot of Indian school baskets made from San Diego into Arizona... but we also find them in Oklahoma Indian schools as well as Carlisle, Pennsylvania Indian schools. George Wharton James, famous basket collector, sold a basket making kit during this time as well and sometimes these are identified as his Kit Baskets.