Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0896   CAS 0370-0896; Burden basket
Category Basketry
Object Name Burden basket
Culture Pomo
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. California
County Mendocino, Sonoma, Lake
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture late 1800s
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Willow (Salix sp.) shoots; Sedge (Carex sp.) roots; Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis) shoots
Description Round conical burden basket with pointed base and flaring sides; Woven primarily in plain twining with diagonal twining on base and near rim; Heavy reinforcing rod located on interior rim is coil wrapped; Design is in split redbud and consists of 6 bands of varying width (2 of rectangles, 1 zigzag, 2 of arrow shapes, and 1 of open contiguous diamonds); Additional dashed band frames rim. [In 1977 Pomo basketweaver Mable McKay identified this as a burden or work basket with a rattlesnake design. She said such baskets were made as an initiation gift for a teenager by the parents and presented by a healer during a ceremony.]
Dimensions (cm) Height = 34.7, Max Diam = 42.7