This finely coiled lidded basket by Yup’ik weaver Jane Wiseman, whose work exemplifies both precision and artistry. Born in Chefornak, Alaska, Wiseman began weaving at the age of ten and continues to harvest and prepare her own grasses by hand. Her baskets are represented in museums, galleries, and private collections, including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. This example was featured in the exhibition Alaska: Life of the Arctic Tundra (2008) and published in the February 2022 issue of Alaska Magazine [1].

The basket is constructed using the coiling technique, with grass wefts sewn in interlocking stitches around coiled rods. Diagonal rows of butterfly motifs, dyed in blue, red, and brown, embellish the sides. The flat-topped lid features a small knob for lifting and a recessed rim that allows it to rest snugly within the basket for a precise fit.

1. “The Art and Utility of Grass Baskets” by Michael Engelhard, February 27, 2022. https://alaskamagazine.com/authentic-alaska/culture/the-art-and-utility-of-grass-baskets/. Accessed March 13, 2025. 

Sarah Raven with First Arts