I-M-183 Yavapai tray. The Yavapai are a Yuman speaking people whose language is a closely related dialect to that of the Havasupai and Hualapai. They lived south of these two groups in what is now west central Arizona and their name means “People of the Sun”. They are divided into four sub-tribal groups: Tolkapaya, Kwevekapaya, Wipukpaya and Yevepe but it is difficult to separate out their respective basketry. They were politically allied with the Apache but were not related to them. Their basketry is very similar to that of the Apache and is frequently misidentified as Apache work. The differences between Yavapai and Apache basketry are subtle but often distinct (admittedly some cannot be told apart).
Generally, the Yavapai make a heavier use of devils claw in their weaving resulting in a roughly equal ration between light and dark material. This tray is a classic example of the Yavapai heavy use of black devils claw. The black is so heavy in fact that a negative space is created visually with human figures floating in a white star at the center of the basket. The negative space is then softened with large triangles done in black and white checkerboard patterning. Coiling is to the left using three peeled cottonwood rods (Populus) for the foundation of the coil. The sewing splints are split peeled cottonwood for the white and split devils claw (Proboscidea) for the black.
A finely woven classic example of a Yavapai tray. 11"d. by 2 1/2"deep. Circa 1920. $3,800.00