Extremely Fine 1870s-80s Macah Nootka Bear Grass and Cedar Bark Basket with Indigo Design (Some Damage) shop keeper a silversmith in Amesbury

a silversmith in Amesbury

(More below)

One clean break in the cut paper design

and I believe was made to sit on a desk and serve as a pen rest (though there's no wear to show it was used this way)

which is grayish brown

Extremely Fine 1870s-80s Macah Nootka Bear Grass and Cedar Bark Basket with Indigo Design (Some Damage) shop keeper a silversmith in AmesburyThis is the finest Makah Nookta, Native American of the Northwest coast, I have ever had in my possession, and I have handled a fair number and looked at many more than that. Hard to judge scale from photos I know, but the weave here is just impossibly tiny and tight. Stunning. And the banded patterns show the most lovely soft indigo blue; the original more intense purple is visible on the interior. 1870s 80s; there is a very good section on the Burke