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Oval plain plaited buckbrush basket with natural dye
Ella Mae Blackbear
Willow basket jar with banded design woven with tree yucca and devil's claw
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Double walled buckbrush round reed basket with walnut and bloodroot dye / Ella Mae Blackbear

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Curatorial Remarks

Ella Mae Blackbear made baskets to sell commercially instead of for utilitarian use. She was a part of a group of women at Bull Holler who sold these baskets. The shape of baskets changed for commercial sale to emphasize the design in a decorative style. This transition from domestic use to commercial sale occurs in the early 20th century. The Pima and Papago made waste paper baskets. The Cherokee, Pima, and Papago did not traditionally create waste paper baskets.

Tags: basket, walnut, bloodroot
People: Cherokee, Ella Mae Blackbear
Places: Southeast, Eastern Oklahoma
Purpose: commercial sale

From interviews with Dr. Garrick Bailey, 2018-2020 University of Tulsa, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology

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©Gilcrease Museum
Title(s): 
Double walled buckbrush round reed basket with walnut and bloodroot dye
Creator(s): 
Ella Mae Blackbear (Artist)
Culture: 
Native American; Cherokee (artist and user)
Date: 
circa 1970
Place: 
Oklahoma
Materials/Techniques: 
buckbrush, walnut, bloodroot
Classification: 
Ethnographic Objects
Baskets
Object Type: 
Basket
Credit Line: 
Gift of Nancy Patton
Accession No: 
71.760
Previous Number(s): 
TL2000.4.3
Department: 
Anthropology
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