Native American Basket Collection

Native American basket and hat.

The collection includes baskets from Washington State and elsewhere, most of them American Indian baskets. Washington State's diverse environment, ranging from the Pacific coast to the mountains and the dry interior provided a range of natural materials for making baskets and resulted in a variety of different basketry styles.

The collection also includes baskets made or used by early European-American settlers and later residents of Washington State. These baskets reflect the immigrants' varied backgrounds and the kind of objects collected or purchased as souvenirs.

Additional Information:

The Language of Native American Baskets from the Weaver's View - Native American baskets served as markers of cultural pride and inheritance, often used in religious ceremonies.

Collecting and Change in Native American Basketry - The practice of collecting baskets has spurred numerous changes this century.

Entwined with Life: Native American Basketry - An online exhibit from the University of Washington's Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture.