Cherokee Basket

Place your mouse over the image. Move your mouse slowly to rotate the image

Cherokee Basket
Oak
Ca. 1960s
Qualla Boundary, Cherokee, NC
Purchased by the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services, ETSU

The Eastern Band of Cherokee are well known for their double weave basket designs and many of their master artists have exhibited their works all over the world. For many years, river cane was the primary material used for Cherokee basketry.  By the mid-20th century, with the scarcity of river cane, the Cherokee began making oak and later honeysuckle baskets. This oak basket has a faded brown and red design, probably made from walnut and bloodroot dyes.  The basket was likely made for the tourist trade.