c. 1875

_Tonto Apache and White Mountain Apache_—Southeast Arizona

Case No. 7:

This unusually large specimen is almost three feet tall. Since about 1914, very few, if any, as large as this have been made. An Indian woman would have to devote three to four months to the weaving of a basket of this size. Today she can purchase a gunny sack from the nearest trading post for twenty five cents and store the same amount of grain with much less effort.

This basket, valued at $750.00 on the collector’s market today, is a splendid illustration of a dying art. The forthcoming Indian generation will not be concerned with the making of baskets for daily use. The beautiful weaving techniques and colorful designs will become a thing of the past.

Also, in this show case, is a fine 1890 basket specimen; a _Tonto Apache_ storage basket from the Verde River area below Flagstaff, Arizona. (See Plate 6c & 17c)

HOUSEHOLD _Chitimacha_—Louisiana

Case No. 10:

The unusual decorative design of this basket is commonly referred to as “alligator intestines.” This design motif has been used as far back as history records, and serves as an excellent example of the weaver’s skill. (See Plate 15c)

For other examples of household baskets see:

Plate 15b: _Cherokee_, household farm basket Plate 15d: _Hoopa_, tobacco basket Plate 16a: _Yokut_, general household basket Plate 16b: _Rappahannock_, household farm basket Plate 16d: _Cherokee_, household farm basket

FOOD BOWL _Hopi—Shongopovi_, 2nd Mesa—Arizona

Case No. 11:

This food bowl is one of the finest specimens of decorative symbolism ever produced in _Hopi_ basketry.

The decorations represent the knobhead (or Mudhead) Clown _Kachina_ called _Koyemsi_, and the Crow Wing Mother (the mother of all _Kachinas_). The four ears of corn, each in a different color, represent the four seasons of the year.

Made by _Lula Joshongeva_, it received several awards at the 1956 Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonials, in Gallup, New Mexico. Further honor was bestowed the basket by a Navajo medicine man’s special blessing at a “Blessing Ceremony.” (See Plate 8b)

BERRY GATHERING _Choctaw_—Mississippi

Case No. 4:

The basket with a tall handle was made in 1817, fourteen years after the Louisiana Purchase. _The basket with a shorter handle is a contemporary specimen._

The 1817 specimen is of considerable historical significance since it was brought to Oklahoma sometime between 1838 and 1842, at the time the Federal Government removed the Choctaw tribe from Mississippi to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). (See Plate 5b)

WATER BOTTLE _Chiricahua_ and _Havasupai_—New Mexico and Arizona

Above door of entrance to Basket Gallery:

These woven specimens are covered with gum from the Pinon Pine and subsequently baked over an open fire until they become as hard as shellac. This coating makes the bottles watertight.

Several Arizona tribes prefer this type of water bottle to any they can procure from the Anglo; they are, therefore, still used extensively in this area. (See Plates 2a & 2b)

CARRYING (or Burden)

Cases No. 1, 7, 8, 11 and Overhead—_Various Tribes_.

This type of basket was used by the _Paiutes_ of Nevada and the _Gabrielenos_ and _Maidus_ of California for carrying acorns; by the _Quileutes_ of Washington for carrying salmon; by the _Hopis_ of Arizona for carrying peaches and corn, and by the _Zunis_ of New Mexico for carrying peaches. (See Plates 14c & 14d)

Case No. 1. Examples of burden baskets used by the _Cherokees_ of the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina.

Case No. 7 and 8: Examples of baskets used by the _Karocs_ of California, showing the “Tump-line” basket with head band attached. (See Plate 13c)

Case No. 11: Shows a harvest basket of the _Cahuilla_ of California, used in carrying grains. (See Plate 9a)

CARRYING _Cahuilla_ or _Mission_—California

Case No. 13:

This basket was used to carry grasshoppers to the brush and grass _Wickiup_ where they were roasted on a long stick over a flame in preparation for eating.

There is nothing too unusual about mankind eating insects: The _Holy Bible_ tells of the children of Israel—forty years in the wilderness—in the land of Canaan, eating locusts, as did John The Baptist while preaching in the wilderness. Today specialty stores retail grasshoppers, fried worms, bees and ants—many of which are chocolate coated! (See Plate 14a)

GRASSHOPPER STEWING _Paiute_—Nevada

Case No. 13:

This basket was made for cooking grasshoppers. After the grasshoppers were placed in the basket the top was tied with a buckskin thong and submerged in boiling water. The basket was removed from the water when the grasshoppers were sufficiently cooked and ready to be eaten. (See Plate 10c)

WATER TIGHT