Tool (for needlework)

Description

This square sewing basket is constructed from woven black ash base and hinged lid, edged with braided grass and topped with a braided grass knot. The basket is lined with pale green silk and contains black ash woven needlework tools. The form, construction, and materials suggest this basket was made by a member of the Wabanaki Confederacy, likely someone from the Passamaquoddy Tribe in Washington County, Maine. The basket and tools also came with a note written by the original owner. She noted that Mary Hutchings purchased the basket in Lake Placid, NY on vacation and then gave it to her. Kittie Fae, the owner whose surname we do not know, also noted in the letter that the hinges were replaced because of wear due to use and also that she had to replace the scissors because of the costal Texas humidity. Objects like this speak to the beginnings of modern mass tourism and important roll of hand-crafted souvenirs of supporting communities through heritage craft.