MID-19th CENTURY WOVEN WICKER OR GRASS CANTEEN

This canteen measures approx. 8" in diameter with a spout that measures 1 1/2". Canteens, constructed like this one, have been the subject of much debate over the years. They have been found as far East as the Carolinas, and as far West as the desert Southwest. It has been proposed that they were originally made by slaves for use in the field. Although this is possible, it seems far more likely they were produced by Native Americans, who were masters of basketry. Canteens like this have been associated with the Apaches, the Cherokees, as well as other Native American tribes. It is possible that canteens like this could have been pressed into limited Confederate service, as they did exist during the Civil War. The canteen shows superb craftsmanship and is created in a manner similar to weav...