Antique Tlingit Alaska Basketry

ca. 1880

5.625" H x 8.25" x 9.5" D

Hand Woven Polychrome Brown Background with Red, Green, Dark Brown Stripping with Overlay of Tan and Yellow Geometric Pattern

Excellent Condition

Antique Tlingit basketry is one of the finest traditions in Native American weaving, originating from the Tlingit people of Southeast Alaska. These baskets, primarily created by women, were essential for daily life—used for gathering berries, storing food, cooking (by dropping hot stones into water-filled baskets), and even as hats or mats—while also serving as symbols of cultural identity and artistry. The Tlingit, whose territory spans from Yakutat Bay to northern British Columbia, developed this craft over centuries, with roots traced back through oral histories, including legends like the Raven's role in teaching weaving skills. By the late 1700s, Tlingit weavers began producing baskets for trade, and the industry boomed in the 1880s with steamship tourism, leading to innovative forms like trays and bottle covers while preserving traditional techniques.