Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0736   CAS 0370-0736; Basket
Category Basketry
Object Name Basket
Culture Pomo
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. California
County Mendocino, Sonoma, Lake
Other Geographic Data Porter Valley area
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture early 1900s
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Willow (Salix sp.) shoots; Sedge (Carex sp.) roots; Bulrush (Scirpus sp.) roots; Acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) feathers
Description Oval basket with flat base and curving sides that taper in slightly at rim; Coiled on a 3-rod foundation; Designs in dyed bulrush include 2 rectilinear fret bands on base, 4 vertical rectilinear fret motifs on each long side; And column of stacked U-shaped motifs at each short end; Red woodpecker crest feathers, spaced approx. 1 cm apart, are woven into the wefts along the final 12 coils. [In 1977 Pomo basketweaver Mable McKay identified this design as the “worm” design which was used by her aunt. She also attributed this basket to the Porter Valley area.]
Dimensions (cm) Height = 6.2, Width = 12.2, Rim Diam = 16.6, Length = 20.8