Curator's Choice: Polychrome Coiled Basketry Bowl
Expert Opinions on Identification
Polychrome Coiled Basketry Bowl Main Page
Dr. Bruce Bernstein
I am offering the educated guess that the bowl because of the materials, designs, design organization, shape, start and weave type is from the interior at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley. Perhaps Tejon, Kitanemuck, or even Vanyume. All of these groups are imperfectly known and documented information and baskets are scant. The few things in collections (Hearst) and extrapolating what baskets might look like based on neighboring groups suggest to me it neither Chumash nor Yokuts. The juncus use is definitely Chumash-like while the yucca root is more like the groups to the south and east of the Yokuts. Plus there is no yucca root use in southern California. The materials of the bowl are juncus—dyed black, the red basal portions, the white portions; sumac (the very center) and yucca root. The use of two white materials (juncus and sumac) is very rare. In southern California there is only one group that does this, but the juncus is never used in their baskets.
The basket's design organization with enclosing bands at the base and rim is like Chumash and the groups to the east of Yokuts, but not the Yokuts. In my mind this is another compelling reason to believe the basket is from one of these groups. If one saw the basket in absence of knowing the materials, it might be identified as Panamint Shoshone or Tubatulabal, but the juncus use is not in keeping with what we know about these basket styles. I assume the basket has a bundle foundation, if it
is not, then it should be two rods and a bundle, but I would guess it is a bundle foundation. Finally, there is a group of baskets from Victorville. It is small group of pieces at LA County Museum. But those are more a combination of other styles. The basket is a real gem—very rare.
Dr. Jan Timbrook
I think it's Fernandeño / Gabrielino. The body zone designs resting on a base line, the proximity of the principal band to the rim, the herringbone rim finish, the tucked fag ends are all consistent with groups to the immediate south of the Chumash. To me the foundation looks like 3-rod juncus in some areas but grass bundle in others; hard to say for sure. Either would fit with Fernandeño / Gabrielino. Those are actually fairly rare, less common in collections than Chumash baskets. I see sewing materials as sumac, natural juncus, dyed black juncus, and the darkish orange ("red") base of the juncus stems—also characteristic of Fernandeño / Gabrielino. I don't see any yucca root in this basket. If it's really there, then Kitanemuk might be a good guess …. The one big crack is probably due to mishandling in the past; missing parts of the rim could be from native use, though not necessarily so; base wear is abrasion from being moved about on rough surfaces, most likely from native use. I can't discern the shape from the photos, but it appears to be the sort of all-purpose deep tray / shallow bowl that was common in many native households.
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