I-3-35 Panamint bowl. The Panamint (also known as Koso) are a branch of the Shoshone, speaking the central Numic dialect of the Uto-Aztecan linguistic family. They were a very small tribe seldom numbering more than a few hundred people at any point in time. They originally inhabited the greater Death Valley region of east central California and southwest Nevada. Living in one of the harshest environments in North America, they produced some of the most beautiful and finely woven American Indian baskets.
This finely woven small bowl has a pair of eagles for the bottom design and serrated diamonds for the main design. It also has the classic Panamint rim ticking for a finish. The all black dyed bulrush designs and quite fine weave suggest a Lone Pine origin for this particular basket and in fact this basket was a part of the famous Aurelia McLean collection of Panamint baskets (see xerox) who owned a drugstore in Lone Pine from the 1920's through the 1960's during which she accumulated some 520 baskets (a number of which were destroyed in a fire in 1967 shortly before her death). Coiling is to the right using three peeled willow rods (Salix) for the foundation of the coil. Sewing splints are split peeled willow for the white and split dyed bulrush (Scirpus) for the black.
A fine example of a Panamint with an interesting collection history. 5 1/4"d. by 3 1/4"h. Circa 1930. $5,200.00