New-York tribune., 1902-06-29
BASKET MAKERS ART.
ARTISTIC EXAMPLES THAT GLOW AND
CLEAN WITH THE NATURAL COL
oRS OF COMMON PRODUCTS.

The hundred more students of Miss Lima Ep-
pendorff, teacher Of basketry in Pratt INSTITUTE
Brooklyn starting for their various summer
homes with enthusiastic plans for the study OF
native grasses, sedges. rushes and other prooucts
for their work Their instructors EFFORTS 10
awaken their interest in the endless posslolilues
of ma aterials weaves and designs have not been
unavailing and the periodical field days, when eA-
cursions have been made to Sheepshead Bay 10
the beach and to neighboring meadows for native
products have further stimulated their en'nusi-
-
Basketry, as Miss Eppendorff teaches it. viii
never become fad. because too mucn tnouSnllui
s+1Idv and effort are required by her metnoos'
Miss Eppendorf and her friend. Miss Sarah fran
els are the pioneers, it is said IN conlolns ndli'
products natural colorings, clever weaves ana
forms in artistic basketry. To accomplish thelr
nurnose required long research and experiment IN
untrodden fields The materials used must De noI
only dry wry. tough and pfabie. out 'hey hus'
also be glossy and beautiful ana permanent III
color
Eror, early spring until fall there is a steady
procession of grasses different varieties spr1ngng
up others disappearing as the season advances
There are about four thousand grasses Whel the
basket weaver has learned to discern among them
the sorts suited to her purposes and the period
when they are their best. she has taken a long
step in her training
The students who will be found this summer ex-
ploring swamps meadows and beaches Will tie
their finds small punches and label them with
data as to the gathered and the soil and place
from which they are taken Some grasses should
while they are in seed, and others Wheh ripe
Miss Francis found last summer one hundred
kinds of useful and beautiful grasses. and MISS
Eppendorn discovered in the season fifty
valuable sorts in single locality The basket
maker learns that if certain grasses are gain
cred too early they are brittle and easily broken
at the nodes.
The prtucipal materials are grasses, rushes
sedges and fine inner husks. few imported
materials. such rafia and palm leaf, are also
employed their colors and qualities are
wanted.
The basket maker must learn to recognize
adaptabiIity in her materials and weaves. Among
the different kinds she will find fat and round
strong and weak coarse and fine In grasses and
rusheS pliable from end TO end, ana
others have knots and nodes. If they used
rightly every eccentricity may serve to emphasize
the makers expression OF beauty in weave and de-
sign. Stalks of certain grasses are more useful
without the inconspicuoUs leaves. and others give
better results If the leaves are retained.
No dyes used in the baskets. although there
found hUes that glow and gleam in a wealth
Of variety and tone To obtain these colors has
required long study and experiment, and the end
of investigation is not yet To get beautiful
/ colors was simple enough. but to obtain perua-
neucy of hue another problem. and since the
work Is yet IN its early stages there is still much
! to learn Baskets. however, made four years ago
have lost nothing Of their wonderful sunshine glow
nor of their exquisite tones of pnks red. purples.
! greens, yellows and ivory white Some OF the bas-
/ cts which have thus retained their charm have
! been scrubbed with soap and water from dust and
! soil
Many OF the best materials found in sandy
soil Beach grass has beautiful light green shade
and lustrous quality which makes it extremely de-
sirahla and one of the choicest for color. This
grass has broad leaf. which. upon gathering.
! wttners into a fine, strong wire, which can be
/ adapted to any It is at its best in August
! and September
The common salt hay, which comes packed
! around Southern vegetables, is nice and smooth
and of golden brown hue Tall grass is not so
available as the short varieties Fine grass, as
/ r,,Ia g the most useful. Stalks often
| ennloyed than leaves. The leaves are apt TO be
| drler in color than the stalks. =,
One of the first characteristics 10 attract the AZ