I-3-39 Panamint with four large butterflies. 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. During the first half of the 20th century, Panamint weavers produced an amazing variety of figured baskets.
This example exhibits one of the designs most favored among collectors of Panamint baskets. There are four large butterflies on this piece, two bold black ones with speckled wings each separated by a yellow butterfly with solid colored wings. The bottom of the basket has an old traditional design of diagonal terraced elements. 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, split devils claw (Proboscidea) for the black in the bottom of the baskets, split dyed bulrush (Scirpus) for the black butterflies and split reed (Juncus) for the yellow ones.
A handsome and bold figural example from this important tribe. 8 1/4"d. by 4 1/4"h. Circa 1920. $7,800.00