Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Determine which material the basket is made from. Is it bark or grass or wood? A distinctive example is California Indian basketry, which is often made from twined bear grass or maidenhair fern. Using the basket identification book, compare the fiber used in your basket with other baskets made of the same material. This should help determine the region it came from.
Look at how your basket is constructed. Is it woven or coiled? Different tribes in different regions constructed their baskets in distinctly different ways. For example, Navajo Indians are known for their "plaque" baskets made from coils. The finer the coils, the more detailed the designs. Refer to the basketry book to compare the construction techniques used by different tribes and see where yours fits.
Study the designs and motifs on your basket and compare yours to the photographs of other antique basket designs in the book. Design motifs and patterns differ by region. For instance, Hopi baskets are noted for their pictorials of Kachina masks while Apache baskets are known for their distinctive pictograph designs.
Once you think you have identified your basket, check online auctions to confirm your conclusion by comparing your basket to those being auctioned.
Consult an expert from a high-end auction house (such as Sotheby's) or a specialty American Indian art auction house or museum for help if you have doubts.
Contact the authors of the antique basket identification book you are using to get their opinion on your basket.