Historic Lidded Makah Basket with Wolf Headdress Designs, c. 1920

Fine Makah Lidded Basket, c. 1920Bird and Wolf Headress DesignsNuu-Chah-Nulth Basketry red cedar, bear grass, aniline dye2.5" h x 4.5" diameterexcellent condition Basketry of the Makah The Makah, or Qwiqwidicciat (people of the cape), appear to have lived and prospered on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state for the last four thousand years. While they still live in the vicinity, their tribal lands today are only a small proportion of their original homeland. The textile crafts have always been important to the Makah with weaving, spinning and basketry being particularly important craft skills. The Makah produced clothing, blankets and rugs as well as a wide range of basketry. Although Makah basketry techniques and skills are similar to those found along large sections of the coast including Washington and British Columbia, this does not mean that very local variations in technique and finish did not exist. Indigenous people along the Northwest coastal region had a range of indivi