Decorative Basket with Base

Ira Blount · 1998

This decorative oval basket is mounted to a wooden base. The body is woven in a plain weave with reeds, wood splints, and double plied twisted seagrass cord. The seagrass cord creates a stripe down each side. The handle, which is attached to the basket with an adhesive and artificial sinew, is a thick brown twig that juts out beyond the basket’s body. Two short matching twigs cradle the bottom of the basket, where they are attached with wood splints. Created in 1998 when artist Ira Blount was 80 years old, this piece represents the artist’s progression towards more experimental, decorative basketry. In 2010, this basket was featured in an article in The Washington Informer about senior citizens who have remained active later in life.