Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Basket: white oak, storage

  • wcu_craft_revival-5329.jpg
  • This white oak storage basket was made by Cherokee basket weaver Agnes Welch. Dyed with blood root and walnut root, the basket is a combination of darks and the lighter natural color of white oak to make an overall pattern. Agnes Lossie Welch (1925-1997) was known for making white oak baskets. Unlike most Cherokee basket weavers, she did not learn this craft through her family. Instead, Welch learned to make baskets in school, from Lottie Queen Stamper (1907-1987). Stamper taught Welch to weave traditional rivercane baskets; later, Welch learned to make white oak baskets from her mother-in-law. White oak basketry became Agnes Welch's specialty. She is also known for her creative use of natural dyes to make distinctive basket patterns. The photograph, taken by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, appeared in the 1972 brochure, "Basketry by Agnes L. Welch."