DESCRIPTION: We are pleased to offer this Outstanding Rare American Made Taghkanic Basket from Columbia County, New York circa 1800s for your consideration. Taghkanic or Taconic, also known as "Bushwacker Baskets", come from a Township in the lower corner of Columbia County in New York State, of the same name, pronounced Ta-kon-ik. These wonderful baskets were made by immigrants from the Palatinate, a district of southwest Germany located west of the Rhine, who came to America just before the Revolutionary War and settled in the area along the east bank of the Hudson River, just south of Albany, New York. When the Revolution erupted, these recent immigrants, who sided with the loyalists but wished to avoid conflict, abandoned their homes and hid in the wooded hills where they lived in simple shacks, safe from both the patriots and the British soldiers. Surrounded by good, plentiful timber in their woodland home, they turned to basket making as a way of supporting themselves. They lived there in the hills, marrying and intermarrying and keeping to themselves. They lived an isolated existence, and in many cases, even intermarrying or marrying the native American Indians (Mohicans) who also called this region "Home". Their land, which was poor for farming and limited to little patches of corn and potatoes, was an ideal environment for basket trees - brown ash, oak, hickory and maple. Somewhere they learned to make baskets, and the baskets gave them a living. They didn't have to be where the market was, but simply where the trees were. These basket makers were typical of other makers in the way they practiced and passed on their craft . . . much like the Shakers who also lived in insulated communities. This Taghkanic Basket is handmade of black ash wood. The Taghkanic Basket has a hand carved black ash swing handle that is attached to two wooden eyelets woven into the sides. The Taghkanic Basket has a square bottom flat splint weave with a round rim and bulbous body. Most Taghkanic Baskets had rounded bottoms with a bump up which makes this a rare and uncommon design and is shown on page 47 of the book "Legend of the Bushwhacker Basket". The profile of the rim is another distinctive feature of Taghkanic Baskets as it looks like a sort of compressed capital letter "D". Most other basket rims are taller than they are thick; the Taghkanic rims are the opposite. And, because they are thickened laterally, Taghkanic rims extend out from the top edge of the basket more, giving it a very special look. Where the uprights are turned down under the rims, the turndown is short. They have very short tails, and they're turned alternately on the outside and the inside, outside and inside. The rims are always double lashed to the body and they're always crisscrossed nicely . . . especially around where the handle is attached, to give it strength and to prevent racking (or loosening). Where the uprights are turned down under the rims, the turndown is short and they have very short tails.
The Swing Handled Taghkanic Splint Basket, has a beautifully patinated, warm, nut brown color. The Taghkanic Basket is in excellent condition with age appropriate wear and Patina.

MEASUREMENTS: Handle to handle is 16 inches, 10 Inches high not including handle, and 48 inches round in circumference.

Decorative Interior
Antique Baskets