Oneidas have made baskets, no face dolls, pots, and beadwork for centuries, first for themselves and later also for sale to non-Natives. Artisans making crafts for sale would modify traditional patterns to make them less utilitarian and more stylish. While artisans still employed the same skills, the final products varied considerably from their originals.

Corn husk dolls are faceless to remind us not to be self-centered. Corn Maiden became excessively proud and vain because her husks were used to make dolls for Oneida children. The Creator warned her this was wrong. Still she could not resist one last glance at her reflection in a stream. At once a screech owl swooped down and snatched her reflected face from the water.

Oneidas valued strength and durability in the baskets they made for their own use. In baskets made for sale, however, they emphasized decoration.

Oneidas used beads to decorate clothing for themselves. In the late 1800s they translated these skills into cash, selling specially-designed moccasins, bags, and belts to tourists.

In the late nineteenth century, Oneida families began to travel to resort areas to sell baskets and other crafts. Oneida William Dockstater testified about this to a committee of the New York State Legislature in 1888.

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