Rare Inuit Sewn Leather and Appliqué Lidded basket

Take a close look at this rare object. It is a lidded jar shaped basket constructed from narrow strips of light and reddish brown hide which have been carefully sewn together. The basket has appliqué designs on some strips and fine sewn contrasting dots and dashes on others. These are made by using thin strips of leather passing through two tiny holes repeated along the length of a band of the body. The lid has similar hide designs on it. The bottom of the basket is a stiff piece of hide and is the foundation upon which the basket is constructed. The work on this basket is reminiscent of leather appliqué work on earlier garments. This is a rare and unique piece of Inuit art and will be an interesting object in a collection.

H. 7"; D. 6 ¼"