Dr. Handsman holding a 1830s painted Nipmuc storage basket
|
Woodsplint Baskets
of New England
Originally prepared by Tara Prindle in conjunction with
A Special Talk and Exhibition of Nipmuc Baskets
"Remembering Nipmuc Homelands in Histories"
led by Dr. Russell G. Handsman
at The Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford. sponsored by
The Nipmuc Indian Association of Connecticut, Inc. on June 30, 1996
|
If we only ask how or when
a basket is made or decorated, we will find out little about the
lives of Native basket makers. If we ask Who
made Indian baskets? and Why?, we may glimpse
into the lives of the basket makers, and understand a little of
their histories.
"Splint baskets therefore
can be about society, people, and history, yet it is often difficult
to realize this when we look at a basket on a pedestal and read
a label with little more than names"
~ quote by Handsman and McMullen.
