Diagonally twined carrying basket

Unknown

ca. 1900 · Willow shoot foundation, sedge root warp, redbud shoot weft, coiled-on oak rim rod and split wild grape vine rim wrap · The American Wing

This basket from an Indigenous community in Northern California is likely the work of a highly skilled woman. Its form, materials, and inventive design convey the collaborative and sacred practice of the Pomo’s annual harvest. While baskets were used for both utilitarian and ceremonial purposes, the scale and condition of this example suggest it was produced for the market, or privately commissioned, to provide a livelihood for community members.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1900

Medium

Willow shoot foundation, sedge root warp, redbud shoot weft, coiled-on oak rim rod and split wild grape vine rim wrap

Culture

Pomo, Native American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of Charles and Valerie Diker, 2016