Acorn (med basket) w/medicine prayer braid - Pam Outdusis Cunningham: Penobscot

Description

Acorn baskets such as this are always highly appreciated and valued by collectors and all who appreciate baskets.  This acorn by Pam oudusis Cunningham, Penobscot basket maker is a special acorn basket.   Pam has enclosed/curled a prayer braid and medicine bundle in this basket.  She has placed a green ash splint turtle on the inside of the acorn cap/basket lid.
The braided sweet grass prayer braid can be used for smudging ("ask seller a question" if you would like to learn about smudging) ... and the herbal medicines (which can also be used for smudging) are enclosed in a native tanned deer hide wrap tied with red string.
This acorn basket by Pam is her medium size acorn, 2.5" high to top of
acorn cap/basket lid
, 2.5" diameter at top tapering to a very small point at bottom. There is a tiny wrapped ring/stem handle at top center of lid - it is only 1/2" in diameter. (This acorn basket will need a stand to be displayed upright, it looks great lying on it's side as well. - I photographed it upright setting inside an old wrapped ring basket handle that no longer is attached to a basket - IF buyer wants this ring handle/stand included w/acorn basket - "Send seller a note" requesting it when you purchase this)  Pam has put her maker's mark, a sweetfern unfurling into a turtle  on the exterior rim of the basket, which is covered by overhanging lid, when it is on.  She has dated it as well.  - Pam is of the Penobscot turtle clan.
Made of brown ash, the traditional material of Maine and Eastern Canadian basketmakers, this has plain tidal sweetgrass wrapping the rim of the basket with plain tidal sweetgrass used for weavers on the .  The enclosed tidal sweetgrass braid for smudging is nicely braided and coiled.  This can be cut and the cuttings used for ceremonial smudging.  The
acorn cap/basket lid is woven with plain tidal sweetgrass - making this look even more like an acorn cap.  The acorn is woven with a spiral on the exterior - It is the weaver's choice to place this on the inside of the work or on the outside.  I think it looks particularly spectacular when it is placed on the exterior of an acorn basket - like Pam does here.
Second to last photo is of Pam dancing the shawl dance, at the 2018 Penobscot Nation Festival.   Last photo is a pic of Pam's great-grandmother, ssipsis, selling her baskets about 1920.  To make some of her basket forms Pam uses some of her ssipsis's basket making tools - gauges, crooked knives and wooden molds.    Be sure to view some of Pam's other baskets in this ebay store - you might find pumpkins, corn, strawberries, blueberries, pinecones or prayer baskets.