Kelp Basket
A kelp basket made in California. Such baskets are still relatively common for decorative purposes, and are often combined with other materials, such as cedar bark. Kelp is an important part of the Indigenous culture and ecosystem of the West coast, according to the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service.
Our basket was presented to the J.V. Fletcher Library, prior to 1913, by Josephine Maria (Flint) Barnard (1838-1913). In the 1980s, the library transferred most of their fine arts collection to the Westford Museum. Josephine was born in Boston, and married John Peasley Barnard (1824-1889) in 1868, becoming his second wife. After his death, Josephine moved to Westford.
W.1983.31.53