Doll Head Lidded Basket

This contemporary doll-head lidded, coiled basket was made by Donna Frank, a Seminole craftswoman from the Panther Clan who comes from a long line of basket makers.This piece was presented by James E. Billie, Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, to the 51st Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell.

The base of the basket is made from palmetto fiber, and the sweet grass coils are held with multicolored thread stitching. The lid's knob is comprised of two figures in colorful dresses--a mother and child--made from cloth and palmetto fiber. The basket is accompanied by a card that contains the following information about the artist and the process of creating the basket: "Seminole Sweetgrass Baskets: Seminole Indian baskets are made of coiled sweetgrass found in high dry areas of Florida. The grass is pulled out from the ground, washed, and laid out in the sun to dry before use. Coils of grass are then carefully stitched together with colored thread. The base is made from palmetto fiber."