- Created by
- Unidentified
- Reeves, Mae, American, 1912 - 2016
- Owned by
- Reeves, Mae, American, 1912 - 2016
- Subject of
- Mae's Millinery Shop, American, 1941 - 1994
- Date
- 1941-1994
- Medium
- basket: straw, raffia, and metal;
- contents: feathers, net, synthetic fiber, foam, wire, adhesive, and plastic
- Dimensions
- H x W x D (.1): 15 × 16 × 6 in. (38.1 × 40.6 × 15.2 cm)
- Description
- A woven straw basket (.1) with a hinged lid decorated on the top of the lid and the sides of the body with a large scale embroidered floral pattern in multi-colored raffia from Mae's Millinery Shop. The hinges on the basket are made from woven straw, as are straps on the front sides that fasten around metal buckle loops. There is also a straw handle on the front, which also functions as the top of the basket as the side with the lid hinges is flat. The inside of the basket is lined with a pink fabric that has a large scale print design of blue roses with mint green leaves. The basket was used by Mae Reeves to store the following hat decorating supplies, in addition to loose feathers, thread, and a sewing needle not numbered:
- .2) two black peacock feather tufts
- .3) 60 " length of red tulle
- .4) light color fur collar
- .5) dark fur pelt that appears to be partially shaped into a circular shape for a hat.
- .6) silk flower bunch
- .7) off-white satin bow
- .8) dark blue veiling
- .9) brown veiling
- .10) red cardinal bird figure covered in feathers
- .11) length of gray foam covered in peach feathers
- .12) tuft of brown feathers attached to a strip of brown fabric
- .13) black hatband with brooch, veil and peacock tuft attached
- .14) cluster of white faux flower buds attached to green wire
- Place collected
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- Mae's Millinery Shop Collection
- Classification
- Tools and Equipment
- Type
- baskets
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from Mae Reeves and her children, Donna Limerick and William Mincey, Jr.
- Object number
- 2010.6.29.1-.14
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




