A comprehensive guide to identification, this book is for readers who are interested in antique Native American basketry, specifically the skill of basket making tribes of western North America. It is not a formal anthropology text, but rather an organized compendium of Native basketry information that blends the previous work of many anthropologists and the experience of the authors. The text defines how collectors, curators, dealers, auction personnel, academics or any interested person can systematically approach tribal identification of Native American basketry. It does this by clarifying the authors’ rationale for tribal groupings based on basket types and not on language or other cultural traits. It explains the multiple Native American basket making materials and techniques and describes how understanding this information can lead to an accurate tribal attribution. This knowledge is essential in developing connoisseurship and will enhance an appreciation of this wonderful Native American art form.
