E-1-131 Yokuts/Miwok bowl.
The Yokuts and Miwok tribes both belong to the Penutian Super Family of languages and live adjacent to one another in central California with the Yokuts being in the San Juaquin Valley and the Miwok just to the north of them in the Yosemite region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The most northern branch of the Yokuts was the Chukchansi and it was these peoples who often intermarried with the southern Miwok. According to Bates (1993, p. 46) some Chukchansi and Yokuts/Miwok weavers took up residence at Yosemite and produced a hybrid type of basket sharing features of both Yokuts and Miwok weaving. This very interesting basket’s characteristics are mostly Yokuts, however, instead of having the typical Yokuts sedge root for the background this basket has split peeled shoots, most likely sumac. The use of sumac or peeled redbud was a common Miwok feature. Another interesting feature of this basket is the presence of traces of red pigment in the two rattlesnake design bands and at four places on the rim. Why such pigment was applied by the weaver is unknown but the intent was quite deliberate. Coiling is to the right using a bundle of deer grass (Muhlenbergia) for the foundation of the coil. Sewing splints are split peeled sumac (Rhus) for the white, split natural redbud (Cercis) for the red and dyed bracken fern root (Pteridium) for the black.
A strong visual example with some highly unusual features. 8¼” inches by 4 ½ inches h. Circa 1910. $1,900.00