#42 • Large Antique Attu Aleut Polychrome Rye Grass Covered Basket

Part of June 2026 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $1,400.00

Status: Sold

Category: Ethnographic Objects

An impressive antique Aleut twined rye grass basket and fitted lid woven in the traditional Attu style, distinguished by its unusually large size and vibrant geometric decoration. The gently tapering cylindrical body is covered with orderly rows of finely executed false embroidery in red, blue, and green, creating a lively polychrome pattern that wraps continuously around the circumference. The decoration extends naturally onto the slightly domed lid, culminating in a coiled knob finial adorned with matching motifs. The basket possesses a wonderful architectural quality and a visual presence far exceeding that of the smaller examples more commonly encountered. Attu Island basketry represents one of the most celebrated traditions of Alaska Native art. Produced from carefully prepared rye grass gathered from the windswept Aleutian Islands, these baskets were admired from the nineteenth century onward for their astonishing craftsmanship and increasingly sophisticated decorative vocabulary. By the turn of the twentieth century, weavers had mastered the technique of false embroidery, introducing bold geometric elements and polychrome designs that transformed utilitarian forms into works of remarkable beauty. While miniature baskets often showcase the microscopic precision of Attu weaving, examples of this scale are admired for an entirely different reason. Constructing a vessel of such dimensions while maintaining an even, tightly controlled weave required tremendous skill and patience. Large covered baskets with substantial proportions and extensive false embroidery are increasingly difficult to locate and have long been favored by collectors for their striking display qualities. The present example exhibits particularly pleasing proportions and an attractive interplay of color throughout. The lid is finished with a matching woven finial featuring additional false embroidery. Minor fiber loss is present to the finial, and discoloration is evident to the underside, both consistent with age and use and shown in the accompanying photographs. Measures approximately 6" in diameter by 6" high.