Makah Lidded Oval Basket By Margaret Irvine

ca. 1960 - 1980

3.5" H x 5.5" L x 3.875" W

Hand Crafted from Sweet Grass and Cedar with Canoes, Birds and a Whale Design with Old Burke Museum Card and Original Tag

In Very Good Condition

Margaret Irving (sometimes spelled Irvine in references) was a Makah basket weaver from Neah Bay, Washington. She was active in the mid-to-late 20th century and known for traditional twined basketry. She is mentioned as a teacher/mentor to other Makah weavers like Melissa Peterson. 

Makah (Nuu-chah-nulth related) weavers, including Irving, specialized in finely twined baskets often made with cedar bark, grasses, and other plant fibers. Lidded trinket or oval baskets were popular as a cottage industry from the late 19th century onward, frequently featuring geometric patterns, pictorial motifs (whales, canoes, birds, figures), or polychrome designs. These were typically small, decorative, and sold to tourists or collectors.