Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Basket: honeysuckle, storage

  • wcu_craft_revival-6011.jpg
  • It is not known who made this undated brightly dyed basket in the permanent collection of Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual. The large basket is honeysuckle woven over white oak splints. The basket shape begins with a round base and was woven upward and outward. Traditionally, storage baskets were made to store domestic goods, from dry foodstuffs to clothing. The natural aeration of the weave allows the stored goods to remain dry, however, this basket was more likely made to be decorative. The honeysuckle appears to be dyed with walnut and yellowroot to yield brown and yellow colors. The basket weaver has twined an eye-catching circular motif around its circumference.