Large antique California Indian basket, circa 1900 - 1915, and of Maidu tribal origin.
This basket is in great condition and has a diameter of 12" at the widest.
It measures 6.25" tall, base to top rim.
The basket is of coiled construction and is very evenly woven with about 14 stitches to the inch horizontally and 7 or 8 rows of stitches vertically.
Maidu baskets of this size and age are rare. This one is beautifully decorated with the swirling geometric zig-zag designs often seen on Maidu basketry.
The Maidu Indians aare from Northern California, with their original homeland in the central Sierra Nevada and the Northern Sacramento Valley, in the drainage area of the Feather and American Rivers. Their baskets show some similarities to both Southwestern tribes and Northern California tribes like the Pomo.
This basket has developed a beautiful rich and slightly darkened patina over the years. It was likely made between 1900 and 1915, and although the maker of this basket is not known, it shows many of the attributes and has similar decoration to the baskets made by Mary Ke'a'a'la Azbil (1864 - 1932) who lived near Chico, California. Examples of her baskets are known and documented because some of them were collected in 1908 by Brooklyn Museum curator Stewart Culin. If you do a search on the internet for "Maidu Basket" you will find some information about her and about Maidu baskets in general.
This basket is in excellent, very fine condition. There are no breaks or missing stitches that I can see. The overall color of the background has darkened very slightly over the past 100 years or so, and you can see the darkened age patina by comparing the color of the bottom of the basket with the sides and inside.
The inside of the basket looks as great as the outside and this piece looks good from any angle, as you can see from the photos, which represent the piece accurately.
This is large, early California Indian basket, with great decoration and form, and is of museum quality.
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE PHOTOS OF THIS PIECE
SIZE:
12" diameter at the widest / 6.25" tall.
WEIGHT:
15.2 oz.
This piece will be double-boxed and carefully packed for safe arrival to it's new owner.
AGE:
Circa 1900 - 1915
CONDITION:
Excellent condition, as shown in the photographs and described above.
No breaks, fading, or missing stitches (that I can find).
PROVENANCE:
Purchased at a San Francisco estate collection 14 years ago / In my own collection since that time.
SHIPPING, PACKING, & HANDLING:
Shipping by UPS Ground, unless otherwise requested.
International Bidders must pay with Paypal.
Please e-mail for shipping quote.
There are no packing or handling charges for this item.
This piece will be carefully packed for safe arrival to its new owner.