Linda Bills Woven Cherry Bark Basket

American, late 20th century, of octagonal form, the strips of cherry bark sewn together with waxed linen thread, reinforced to interior with small twigs, signed "L. Bills" to base; 4 x 10-1/2 x 10-1/2 in.

Provenance: Private Collection, New York

Note: Artist's statement: "In 1980, I was introduced to bark as a material that had been used in traditional basket making. From the beginning I was smitten with its natural beauty, also I loved that I could gather it in nearby woods, for nothing. Since I was gathering it from trees scheduled to be removed for construction and ground into wood chips, I felt that, through the work I created, I would be giving the bark and the trees a new, additional life."
Condition Report: minor area of loss to bark, stress marks to bark panels