The “Made for the Trade” exhibition explores local Native American baskets and changes that occurred through making them for sale and trade outside of the Indian community.
The ““Indian curio trade” redefined baskets as art. Methods of collecting and interpreting baskets changed through commerce, anthropology, photography, and displays in a white home’s “Indian corner” or “Indian room.”
Major weavers including Elizabeth Hickox, Nettie Ruben, Amy Smoker and Ella Johnson are emphasized, as well as collectors/interpreters including Brizard & Co., Grace Nicholson, Emma Freeman, A. W. Ericson, Alfred Kroeber and Lila O’Neale.
In addition, many new basket patterns appeared from weavers’ imaginations and from designs prevalent to the commercial world.
On Display Until October 2012
