VINTAGE SWEET GRASS BASKET WITH HANDLE & LID

Description

The coiled sweetgrass basket
is a historically significant African art that was brought to America by enslaved Africans from the Windward and Rice Coasts of West Africa in the 17th century. H
andcrafted sweetgrass baskets are still being made today, primarily in the Southeastern U.S. where the sweetgrass grows in sandy soil near the ocean.  The bundles of dried sweet grass are coiled into unique circular designs & secured with palmetto fronds.
This handled basket with lid is almost 7 inches tall from the bottom edge to the top of the handle & 6 inches across at its widest point handle-to-handle.  The lid is 5-1/4 inches in diameter & 3/4 inches tall.  The basket has an opening at the base of the handles on both sides.    Age & origin is unknown.
Most of these baskets from my collection were purchased 1980-90s in South Carolina, but this one has darkened & is older, purchased in an antique shop.
It is in good vintage condition & still tightly coiled with the exception of
some loss of binding on the handle as shown in the photos.
Ships USPS.