#16 • Aleut Polychrome Twined Grass Wallet

Part of March 2025 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $900.00

Status: Sold

Category: Ethnographic Objects

A gorgeous late 19th century twined telescoping basket, wallet, or slipcase of Aleut origin, handcrafted from a mix of beach and rye grass. This example features a loosely woven base, with tightly woven sides decorated with vibrant polychrome false silk embroidery. A similar piece resides in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian, having been crafted at the turn of the start of the last century and labeled as a "cigaret (sic) case and cover" at time of accession. Measures approximately 2.75" x 1.25" x 4.25" tall.