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Up for sale or purchase is an exceptional, investment-grade specimen of Native American black ash basketry. This large-format lidded \"fancy\" basket was handcrafted by the legendary Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) master weaver, Helen Lonetree. Lonetree was highly celebrated for her technical innovations, and her historical works have been documented in prominent museum exhibitions focusing on Great Lakes indigenous arts.
This beautiful piece showcases her signature mastery of form, featuring a complex \"porcupine-weave\" (spiked curl) motif using striking, deeply saturated red and yellow dyed ash splints contrasted against natural honey-toned ash wood.
Artist Signature:
The bottom of the basket features Helen Lonetree’s authentic, hand-written pencil signature across the central intersecting splints. She was proudly one of the very first weavers in her community to sign her work, making this an incredibly important piece for serious collectors.
Dimensions:
• Diameter: 10.5 inches (Both lid and base)
• Height: 8.5 inches (Measured from base to the top tips of the lid spikes)
Condition Report: Pristine / Collector Grade
This basket is in magnificent, museum-quality vintage condition and has been meticulously preserved in a light-controlled, smoke-free environment.
• Structure: 100% sound. No broken splints, no loose fibers, and absolutely no unraveling along the delicate wrapped rims of the base or lid.
• Decorative Elements: Every single raised porcupine twist and curlicue is completely intact and unbroken—an extreme rarity for a basket of this size and age.
• Color: Vibrant and exceptionally rich. As seen in the interior photos, the red and yellow pigments remain highly saturated with virtually zero sun-fading or UV damage.• Signature: Hand-signed \"Helen Lonetree\" in pencil across the bottom base splints.
• Provenance Mark: Features an original mid-century pencil gallery/dealer inventory mark of \"84.50\" on the bottom wood grain.
