Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 2006-0012-0001   CAS 2006-0012-0001; Basket
Category Basketry
Object Name Basket
Culture Washoe
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. California
County El Dorado, Placer
Other Geographic Data Lake Tahoe area
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1920s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Sumac (?) (Rhus sp.) shoots; Willow (Salix sp.) shoots; Aniline (?) dyes
Description Deep round basket with flat base and slightly flared sides, probably made in imitation of a waste basket; Basket start is crossed warps and entire base and first few rows on lower sides are woven in three-strand twining technique, using sumac (?) or willow (?) shoots for the warp and peeled and split willow shoots for the weft; Sides of basket are woven entirely in diagonal twining technique; Designs are woven of dyed willow shoots and consist of a wide plain band around the lowermost sides, followed by a double band of opposing triangles, (both in an indeterminate color [possibly blue or gray] now faded to dark brown), a single band of black chevrons at midlevel height, and a second band of opposing triangles in the same color as the lower band; Final few centimeters of warps are exposed at rim and clipped, except for every third warp rod which is bent over and included in a final row of twining; Single reinforcing rod is lashed along rim in widely spaced coiled stitch, with its ends overlapping slightly.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 29.4, Max Diam = 36.5