posted on August 13, 2001 07:37:34 AM new
I would love some help in further identifing this basket as well an idea of a value to place on it. I believe is is from the southwest and pre-1940. I couldn't find anything like in the books I had available. Help!? Thanks in advance.
[ edited by hughesdesign on Aug 14, 2001 11:08 AM ]
posted on August 13, 2001 08:17:06 AM new
I think you used the url for the thumbnail sized pics. Try the full sized and it might work.
[ edited by loosecannon on Aug 17, 2001 07:13 AM ]
posted on August 14, 2001 11:29:25 AM new
It looks very nice and may be a little unusual being square. Most I have seen are circular or oval.
I would not put it up for sale or auction until I got a professional appraisal. If it's not especially valuble, at least you'll know. However, if it's worth a lot you don't want to take a chance either.
Some Native Americian crafts are really valuable, as you probably already know. Baskets have always been collectible.
Oh, and you'll probably get someone complaining out of ignorance that it has swastikas on it.
[ edited by loosecannon on Aug 17, 2001 07:14 AM ]
posted on August 14, 2001 03:12:48 PM new
Hi....while I can't tell you much on the basket ...I CAN tell you that those "swastikas" are not swastikas at all. They are a very old thunderbird symbol (if I remember rightly)that predated the Nazi use of it by a lot of years. It is unfortunate that Hitler forever ruined that old symbol....I remember hearing a true story from WW2 where an aging Native AMerican father told his soldier son to bring their symbol back home (after seeing it as an emblem of Nazi Germany) but I digress...its truly not a swastika and the fact that its on that basket would make me wonder about its age too as that symbol is not used much now for obvious reasons. Good luck on finding out something about it...and I agree, don't sell it till you can research something more about it....I have an extensive library on old Native items and I will take a look tonight and see what I can find out.....
posted on August 14, 2001 03:36:22 PM new
I once heard the Hopi used the swastika as a sun symbol but I would have to do more research to be sure.
Edited to say that one website says it meant sun or life to the Hopi. Here is further info on the symbol where it says it was a sacred Native American symbol.
