Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Basket: honeysuckle, lidded

  • wcu_craft_revival-6244.jpg
  • This undated basket was made by Cherokee basket weaver Nancy Conseen. The storage basket is honeysuckle woven over white oak ribs. The woven lid, with wrapped handle, fits over the base. Small baskets such as these were used to store domestic items; some are called button baskets. The walnut-dyed honeysuckle is brown; the fainter orange is from bloodroot. Both plants, used by Cherokee basket weavers to make dye, are native to the region. Nancy Conseen (1929-1997) was born in Cherokee, North Carolina on the eve of the Great Depression. When she was just six years old, she learned to weave white oak and honeysuckle baskets from her mother, Caroline Conseen. In school she learned to make rivercane baskets from Lottie Stamper. In 1981 Conseen was selected North Carolina Craftswoman of the Year in 1981. Her work twice appeared at the White House.