Ceremonial Basket

Ceremonial Basket

Basketry bowl. Coiled, one rod. Warp - sumac shoots; weft - sumac split shoots. Design element - dyed sumac shoots (orange). Design pattern - at shoulder is a circle with a sipapu. On interior are diagonal lines evenly spaced which go up to the right from circle, and down to the right. Design is opposite on exterior. There are a few breaks in warp. Rim finish is braided weft.
  • Object: Ceremonial Basket
  • Artist: Unknown
  • Circa: Early 20th Century
  • Dimensions: 11 3/4"x2 3/4"
  • Culture Area: Southwest
  • Cultural Group: DinĂ© (Navajo)
  • Cultural Context: Ceremonial baskets typically are used to hold corn meal or pollen and other items used in Navajo Sings. The hole where the coiling starts is symbolic for the umbilical cord and the place where the Dine are said to have entered this earth surface.
  • Donor: Dr. Stetz (Mendocino County Museum)
  • Catalog #: 96.170