Makah Oval Market Basket

ca. 1920

6.75" H x 12.375" L x 7" W

Hand Woven with Golden Tan Background and Dark Teal, Dark Purple, Orange, Teal, Cream, Golden Brown and Black Weaved Colors Making a Geometric Design

In Very Good Condition but is Missing a Handle and a Break on the Rim

A Makah oval market basket is a traditional woven basket created by the Makah people (also known as the Nootka or Nuu-chah-nulth), an Indigenous tribe from the Pacific Northwest Coast, primarily located near Neah Bay, Washington, at the northwestern tip of the Olympic Peninsula. These baskets are renowned for their intricate twining techniques and cultural significance, often used for gathering, storage, cooking, and market purposes—hence the "market basket" designation. They embody the Makah's deep connection to their environment, with designs frequently incorporating motifs like whales, birds, eagles, or geometric bands symbolizing marine life and tribal stories.