D-38-123 Maidu bowl.
The Maidu are divided into three groups: the Nisenan (Valley), the Konkow (Foothill) and the Sierra (Mountain) Maidu. These peoples spoke mutually unintelligible dialects of the Maidu language, which belongs to the Penutian Super Family of languages. Their territory is in northeastern California just north of Yosemite and bordered on the west by the Sacramento River with Lake Tahoe to the east.
This shallow bowl is unusual not only for its shape but also for its design which does not fit into the pantheon of established Maidu designs being instead a unique creation of the weaver. Also, interestingly the stitching ends on the basket’s interior are not all clipped, which is unusual as well. Coiling is to the left using three peeled willow (Salix) rods for the foundation of the coil. Sewing splints are non-peeled split red bud (Cercis) for the red and peeled red bud that has been split for the white (now aged a light tan color).
A handsome and unusual example of Maidu basketry, this piece is from the personal collection of Craig Bates, curator at the Yosemite Museum, California. 10 ½” d. by 4” h. Circa 1930. $2200.00