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Palm Leaf Basket

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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A Febuary 4, 1900 "The Boston Globe" article describes the production of palm leaf baskets in Deerfield, Massachusetts': "And last but not least one must mention the revival of the old palm leaf industry, which is an interesting feature of old Deerfield life just now. The women who have taken up this work are largely those who used to braid years ago the palm leaf hats then in fashion. The gradual disappearance of those hats destroyed that industry, but there has now sprung up a demand for pretty little baskets of this light and delicate material. A fine grade of palm leaf is used, but experiments are being made with a coarser type. It is of a very light straw color and makes a very pretty basket. They are made into various shapes and sizes and when lined with soft silk are frequently converted into sewing baskets."

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