Basket: white oak, ribbed

This undated ribbed basket was made by Cherokee basket weaver Sally Wade. The rounded bottom of the basket sits on an elevated base; a circular handle is woven into the basket. Baskets like this one could have been used for storage or as a small “shopper.” The darker contrasting oak strips appear to be dyed brown with walnut and orange with bloodroot, both traditional native dye plants among Eastern Band Cherokee. Sally Ann Taylor Wade (1924-1988) was the daughter of well-known basket weaver, Julia Ned Taylor (1902-1991). The Taylor family specialized in making white oak baskets. In 1978 the Indian Arts and Crafts Board organized an exhibit of baskets made by the Taylor family that was shown at the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual artisan cooperative