Basket: white oak, hen

Basket: white oak, hen

Taylor, Julia Ned, 1902-1991

United States. Indian Arts and Crafts Board

This undated photograph, taken by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, is of a white oak ribbed basket made by Julia Taylor. This type of white oak basket is traditionally called a “hen” basket; Taylor adapted the form to function as a knitting basket. Changes in traditional forms illustrate how regional basket weavers adapted traditional techniques to new forms in response to increased tourism and sales. Woven in white oak, the basket was dyed with walnut root and blood root. A member of the Birdtown Community of the Qualla Indian Boundary, Julia Ned Taylor (1902-1991) was known for making ribbed white oak baskets. For many years, Taylor and two of her daughters, Rachel and Dolly, made baskets as a team. Her other daughters, Pauline and Sally, made baskets as well. In 1970 the Indian Arts and Crafts Board organized a solo show of Julia Taylor's work at the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual artisan cooperative; a 1978 exhibit featured baskets made by the Taylor family.

North Carolina Digital Heritage Center

image

https://southernappalachiandigitalcollections.org/object/15481

Basket making

Basket making -- Appalachian Region, Southern

Cherokee baskets -- Appalachian Region, Southern

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