Coiled Gift Basket

Coiled Gift Basket

Pomo gift basket. The weave is coiled, the direction of coiling is clockwise viewed from above. The basket has vertical sides that flare below the rim. It has a three-rod willow foundation and a weft of sedge grass root. The diamond designs are in dyed bulrush. The rim has been finished in alternating light-dark checker pattern. There is a triangular check pattern on the bottom. The rim of the basket has been decorated in three places with clam shell beads which have been sewn on. The basket used to have feather designs on the side: there are remnants of the Quail and Red Woodpecker feather. Near the base are three sticks of red shafted flicker quills in the coiling. On the base of the basket a single black bead is sewn into the sedge grass weft near one of the diamond shapes. Probably the weavers signature.
  • Object: Coiled Gift Basket
  • Artist: -
  • Circa: -
  • Dimensions: 4-1/4" height 8-1/8" width
  • Culture Area: California
  • Cultural Group: Pomo
  • Cultural Context: The three flicker quills woven into the bottom of the basket indicate that the weaver broke the menstrual taboo against weaving during her period or kela.
  • Donor: Sonoma County Historical Society
  • Catalog #: 85.032