I-M-228 Fine Klamath/Modoc bowl.
The Klamath and Modoc (both closely related tribes) originally inhabited the north central part of California and the adjacent southern section of Oregon, with the Klamath to the north and the Modoc to the south. They were flanked on the west by the Cascade Mountain chain and on the east by the Great Basin. To the north was the beginning of the Plateau region and south of these people were the riverine valleys of California. Their language belongs to a division known as the Plateau Penutian (formerly called the Lutuami), a member of the proposed Penutian Superfamily of languages. They originally inhabited the shallow lakes and wetlands formed by ancient lava flows and much of their material culture reflects this environment.
Klamath/Modoc baskets are woven of soft pliable wetland plants that are difficult to control in the weaving process. This fine example, however, is well controlled and uses a particularly bold version of this northern California design (sometimes called quail). The twining is a combination of plain twining (for the majority of the basket) and three strand twining (mostly on the bottom and near the top) with some of the pattern done in wrapped twining. The materials are tule cord (Scirpus) for the warp, mud dyed tule for the brown designs and split cattail leaf (Typha) for the white.
An unusually bold and attractive example from this northern California/southern Oregon tribe. 5 1/2"d. by 4"h. Circa 1900. $850.00