Coushatta Pine Needle Basket

Coushatta lidded pine needle basket with pine cone and needle décor two sides and top. This woven by L.C. John, the last of the great Coushatta basket makers. This basket is made from longleaf pine needles native to the state stitched with raffia and decorated with 3 pine cones and green raffia pine needles spaced equally on the sides. The lid with rounded knob is decorated with 2 pine cones and green raffia pine needles. This beautifully shaped basket is a masterpiece with its tight weave and snugly fitting lid, hallmarks of a skilled maker. The Coushatta Tribe first entered documented history in the journals of DeSoto in the 16th Century. At that time, Coste, their principal town, was located on an island I the middle of the Tennessee River called “Cusatee.” According to his memoirs, DeSoto traded extensively with the Indians, who also served as guides and as liaisons between the white explorers and the Indian tribes of the region. Today the Coushattas, numbering about 300, live in the pine forests near Elton, LA. Their tribal customs intact, their traditional arts and crafts flourishing. The Coushattas are a recognized Indian Nation and remain a close-knit family unit, working to preserve their heritage for generations yet to come. The long leaf pine needle baskets, each a work of art, haven’t’ changed in ages, nor has the art of weaving these practical items. Using materials found in the nearby forests, long leaf pine, swamp cane, sedge grass and white oak, the Coushattas make items as lovely and practical as they were when the techniques were developed countless generations ago.