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Coiled basket tray with human and geometric designs / Unknown

Curatorial Remarks

Probably Yavapai. These types of baskets were used in commercial use for sale as a means of economy. The western Apache and Yavapai wove tremendous numbers of baskets and they were all sold. There is a lot of confusion between Yavapai and Western Apache basketry. Both are identical in weaving technique and materials. Would be sold at the trading post. For a while the Yavapai lived on the San Carlos Apache reservation. The government removed the Yavapai to the San Carlos Apache reservation. There was intermarriage between the two. An example of this was Mary Austin. Mary Austin was a half Yavapai and half Apache basket weaver. When she was living on the Fort Mcdowell Yavapai reservation her baskets were identified as Yavapai. But when she was a residence at San Carlos they were sold to a local trader as Western Apache. She was living in the 1970s. She would go back and forth between the two.

Tags: baskets, commercial sale
People: probably Yavapai
Places: Southwest, Arizona
Purpose: domestic use, commercial use

From interviews with Dr. Garrick Bailey, 2018-2020 University of Tulsa, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology

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Title(s): 
Coiled basket tray with human and geometric designs
Creator(s): 
Unknown
Culture: 
Native American; Apache, Western (artist and user)
Date: 
early 20th century
Materials/Techniques: 
willow, devil's claw
Classification: 
Object Type: 
Accession No: 
71.230
Previous Number(s): 
7136.230
Department: 
Not On View

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