Description:

Attributed to Mary Dick Topino (1863 or 1868-1923), known as "Mrs Britches", Wukchumni Yokuts
PICTORIAL IMBRICATED FRIENDSHIP BASKET, CA. 1900

grass, sedge root, bracken fern root
height 11 in — 27.9 cm, diameter 22 in — 55.9 cm

Estimate: $10,000—15,000 CAD

  • Provenance: Heintzman Family Collection, Cognashene, ON
    Private Estate, Port Credit, ON
  • Dimensions: height 11 in — 27.9 cm, diameter 22 in — 55.9 cm
  • Medium: grass, sedge root, bracken fern root
  • Notes: A masterwork of California basketry, this rare and important figural basket is attributed to the Wukchumni Yokuts weaver Mary Dick Topino, widely considered to be one of the foremost First Nations basket weavers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

    The weaving belongs to a family of monumental baskets that have come to be known as “Friendship Baskets”, in which the weaving’s central design element is a ring of figures joined by their hands. The present basket exhibits an exceptionally elaborate, and beautifully balanced composition, including 36 figures, bordered by a design of 14 abstract elements below, and a ring of 34 quadrupeds (possibly bears and dogs) above.

    The basket was in the collection of the historic Heintzman family of Toronto, and was kept in the family cottage on Talbot Island in Georgian Bay until the basket passed to the ownership of the consignor’s family with their acquisition of the property in 1968.

    A special thanks to the co-author of California Indian Basketry: Ikons of the Florescence, Eugene S. Meieran for his assistance in identifying the authorship of the present basket.

    Wayne A. Thompson and Eugene S. Meieran, California Indian Basketry: Ikons of the Florescence (San Diego: Sunbelt Publications, 2021).
  • Condition: Condition commensurate with age.
    Please contact the specialist for further condition information.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

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Flashpack
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For any additional questions, please contact us at [email protected]

CITES WARNING:
Restrictions exist regarding the import and export of species protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). This includes but is not limited to items made of or containing bone (whalebone etc.), ivory, tortoise shell, seal skin, rhinoceros horn and any other animal part and is strictly controlled or forbidden by most countries. Please review your country's laws before bidding on pieces made of or containing these restricted items. It is the sole responsibility of the buyer to inquire about and obtain the proper permits for artwork purchased that may contain restricted materials, if such permit can be obtained. Please contact the department for further assistance. For more information please visit www.cites.org

September 11, 2025 3:00 PM EDT
Toronto, ON, CA

Waddington's

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
$0 - $25,000:
25.00%
$25,001+:
22.00%

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
CA$0 CA$199 CA$10
CA$200 CA$499 CA$20
CA$500 CA$999 CA$50
CA$1,000 CA$1,999 CA$100
CA$2,000 CA$4,999 CA$200
CA$5,000 CA$9,999 CA$500
CA$10,000 CA$19,999 CA$1,000
CA$20,000 CA$49,999 CA$2,000
CA$50,000 CA$99,999 CA$5,000
CA$100,000 CA$299,999 CA$10,000
CA$300,000 CA$999,999 CA$25,000
CA$1,000,000 CA$1,999,999 CA$50,000
CA$2,000,000 CA$2,999,999 CA$100,000
CA$3,000,000 CA$4,999,999 CA$200,000
CA$5,000,000 + CA$300,000