I-M-199 Fine Western Apache polychrome tray. The Western Apache were traditionally Athabaskan speakers belonging to the Nadene family of languages who migrated from their homeland in the interior of northern Canada to the American southwest during late prehistoric times. Since complex coiled basketry was all but unknown among the Canadian Athabaskans, it is assumed that the Apache learned how to weave such baskets after their arrival in the southwest, possibly from the Pueblo Indians or from the Yuman speaking peoples such as the Yavapai who were in the southwest before the Apache and whose baskets are most similar to Apache work.
Four major groups of the Western Apache are: Tonto, Cibeque, White Mountain and San Carlos. Their baskets are mostly indistinguishable consequently, the term Western Apache is applied to this body of weaving. This example has all of the qualities that one looks for in an Apache basket. Not only is it unusually fine in weave, but it is also a polychrome and is figured with dogs and men some of whom are wearing the classic Apache moccasin type with upturned toe panels. Coiling is to the left using three peeled rods of cottonwood (Populus) for the foundation of the coil. The sewing splints are split peeled cottonwood for the white (now aged a honey color), split devils claw (Proboscidea) for the black, and split yucca root (Yucca) for the red.
A fine and richly designed example of a Western Apache tray. 13 3/4"d. by 4 1/4"deep. Circa 1900. $8,000.00