Salish Rectangular Basket Box with Lid

ca. 1900

2.875″ H x 7.125″ L x 3.125″ W

Hand Coiled with Overlaid Red and Cream Zigzag Pattern with Matching Lid

In Very Good Condition

A Salish Basket Box with Lid is a traditional woven storage basket made by Indigenous peoples of the Salish groups, particularly the Coast Salish or Interior Salish from the Pacific Northwest region (including parts of Washington, British Columbia, and surrounding areas). These are historic handwoven containers, often dating to the late 19th or early 20th century, crafted primarily from materials like cedar root, cherry bark, beargrass, horsetail root, or other natural fibers. They use coiled construction techniques, sometimes with imbricated (overlaid) decoration for strength and design. The rectangular “box” form with a fitted lid was used for storage of food, valuables, clothing, or other itemspractical yet often beautifully decorated with geometric patterns like diamonds, “H” motifs, boxes, ladders, zigzags, or bars in contrasting colors. These are highly collectible as antique Native American basketry, appearing in museum collections.