Tahono O'odham plaques including a turtle design worked in Devils Claw Tahono O'odham plaques, including a turtle design worked in Devils Claw, grace a shelf in the gift shop. The twill baskets at right may have been Choctaw? There were too many to remember them all!

A Hidden Treasure in DC

by Lynn Hoyt
Edited by Pamela Zimmerman

Before a recent trip to DC, I decided to research basketry in the area. I'd heard there was nothing, and it's true I didn't find much except for one unlikely business-- The Department of the Interior Indian Craft Shop. What? Being from DC, and working there for 20 years of my adult life, I had never heard of it!

Traditional drums, as well as non-traditional work (all produced by Native Americans) can be found throughout the shop



After going through tight security at this older government building, a door was opened to another world. There were wonderful displays of Native baskets from various American tribes/cultures throughout the room! Other crafts like jewelry, kachinas, quillwork, carvings and pottery were also represented. What a beautiful shop.

Tohono Oodham effigy baskets and a very rare centipede and snake basket
Tohono O'odham effigy baskets, and a very rare centipede and snake basket


It was hard to contain my excitement as I studied a group of exquisite Tohono O'odham miniature figural baskets. The staff were wonderful right from the start, opening cases and letting Pamela and I handle and inspect everything, and allowing us to take photos. What a treat for an East-coaster to be able to see and hold such beautiful Southwestern Native baskets!

Pacific Northwest offerings included carved ivory, two large baleen baskets with ivory finials, as well as cedar work and a coiled grass basket!
Pacific Northwest offerings included carved ivory, two large baleen baskets with ivory finials, as well as cedar work and a coiled grass basket!
On the opposite shelves were some large patterned closed coil baskets made by well-known Tohono weavers. (One of the Franciscos comes to mind.) We dashed around from case to shelf, and then to the other room, marveling at Hopi sifters, baleen baskets, Aleut twined cedar and bark, Cherokee oak, and Passamaquoddy ash and sweetgrass baskets.

We were asked if we were basket collectors; well yes, on a very modest scale. It was easy to spot the kids in the candy store! The baskets were well labeled with the artist's name, tribe and location. One of the rooms had a book shelf, and I was able to pick out several selections that I had not heard of.

Miniatures
Miniatures included some very affordable horsehair bowls, as well as the higher-priced pictoral bowls, set in a lovely dollhouse setting. There were mini-Tahono O'odham pieces, tiny cedar baskets and very tiny sweetgrass splint baskets. The dollhouse was complete with mini pots and Navajo weavings, a tiny storyteller, at least one mini kachina...and more...it was hard to photo, and I am sure I missed seeing a bunch!
I also came away with three baskets: A Hopi sifter basket, by Marilyn Nuvayaktewa, a tiny twined cedar finger basket by Viv Ross/Aleut, and a miniature Tohono O'Odom coiled horsehair. It was nice that they issued certificates of authenticity.

As little known or publicized as this place is, I imagine their clientle consists mainly of collectors. If you are in DC, this gem is not to be missed! While I was there, I signed up for their online newsletter, which I've enjoyed. You can sign up too, at their interesting website.

Coushatta pine needle baskets were perhaps the most abundant woven forms.
Coushatta pine needle baskets were perhaps the largest and most abundant woven forms.

More photos below, keep scrolling down!


www.indiancraftshop.com
Dept of the Interior
1849 C St NW
Washington, DC 20240
indiancrafts@erols.com
202 208-4056






Splintwork
Navajo weaver Sally Black
Navajo weaver Sally Black
Wearables: beaded earrings, wonderful silverwork, and very tiny sweetgrass splint basket earrings
Wearables: beaded earrings, wonderful silverwork, and very tiny sweetgrass splint basket earrings


Coiled Hopi placques, as well as other pueblo crafts, including yucca sifter trays, kachinas and Acoma pottery

Cherokee honeysuckle wickers and cane twills


Editor's Note:
The The Department of the Interior Indian Craft Shop and Museum hours are Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm (closed on federal holidays). On the third Saturday of each month the Shop is open from 10:00am - 4:00pm and the Museum is open from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Please bring a photo ID when visiting the Department of the Interior.

Plan your visit carefully. Traffic is heavy in downtown DC and parking can be challenging. Taxis are expensive have an elaborate "zone" system for charging fees and can be difficult to find.

The best way to visit is to take the Metro (subway). But the closest stop to the Dept of Interior requires walking (each way) of about a mile.

If you are not able to do this it is recommended that you schedule your (weekday) arrival by car between 2:30 pm and 3 pm when some federal employees are beginning to be released from their jobs, and some parking meters on adjacent streets become available. This means you will have a limited amount of time to visit the shop before closing hours...it also means that traffic will be heavy leaving the city. Planning to visit monuments & memorials dinner in the city or just braving traffic are all options...just make a plan!

Pine Needle Group Logo, created by Carol Antrim