Makah Neah Bay Washington Bottle Basket

Makah Neah Bay Washington Bottle Basket
Mid 20th Century
Size 4" H, 1.625" D + .875" D Lid
Tightly Woven Tan Background with Purple, Teel, Orange, Pink, Dark Green, Light Green, Blue, Magenta and Black Colors and Many Various Birds and Fish with a Removable Matching Lid
Excellent Condition
A "bottle basket" (also called a basketry-covered bottle or bottle-shaped basket) is a distinctive Makah innovation from the late 19th to early 20th century. It typically involves weaving a finely twined basketry cover over a glass bottle, shell, or glass float (from fishing nets), creating a decorative, lidded container for trinkets, jewelry, or small items. The shape mimics a bottle—tall and narrow with a wider base.
Makah baskets evolved from utilitarian objects to include decorative forms, especially after contact with European settlers. In the 1860s, as trade and tourism grew, Makah women at Neah Bay developed a cottage industry producing small, colorful "trinket baskets" for sale to visitors and collectors. These were labor-intensive, fully twined pieces made primarily from twisted cedar bark, often dyed with natural or commercial pigments for polychrome designs featuring geometric patterns, animals (like whales or seagulls), or feathers. Production peaked through the 1930s, with thousands of baskets woven annually, though the introduction of mass-produced goods reduced traditional output. Today, basketry persists as both a cultural practice and an art form, with modern weavers incorporating contemporary elements while honoring ancestral methods.
The Treaty of Neah Bay (1855) secured Makah rights to their lands and resources, including fishing and whaling, which influenced their material culture. Archaeological evidence from sites like Ozette (a preserved Makah village) highlights ancient basketry techniques. The Makah Cultural and Research Center in Neah Bay houses artifacts and offers exhibits on this heritage, open year-round except major holidays.with various animals.