Basket
Pomo artist, Basket, ca. 1880/1900, willow, sedge root, bulrush root, cotton string, clamshell beads, quail feathers, and woodpecker feathers, The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection, no known copyright restrictions, 91.95.34
This work is not currently on view.
- Title
Basket
- Artist
- Date
ca. 1880/1900
- Medium
willow, sedge root, bulrush root, cotton string, clamshell beads, quail feathers, and woodpecker feathers
- Dimensions (H x W x D)
3 1/2 in x 8 in
- Collection Area
Native American Art
- Category
California
Baskets
- Object Type
basket
- Cultural Group
Pomo
- Credit Line
The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection
- Accession Number
91.95.34
- Copyright
no known copyright restrictions
- Terms
The Pomo are seven distinct cultural groups that historically occupied the California coast from south of the Russian River northward to the Fort Bragg area and inland to the region around Clear Lake. Although the Pomo made a variety of baskets, they are best known for finely coiled baskets such as these. The basket on the left is constructed with a three-coil foundation. The woven designs on Pomo baskets are usually geometric; figurative designs are rare. Pomo weavers often add feathers and clam shell beads as further ornamentation. The dark plumes are quail topknots, frequently used as accents around the basket rims. The red feathers, from the acorn woodpecker, are very fine; each tuft on the basket is made of several feathers that have been twisted together.
