Basket

ca. 1900; Western Apache, Tonto; height 71 cm (28 in.); Willow, devil's claw, and wood; Founders Society Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Peter W. Stroh, and Stroh Brewery Foundation Fund; 79.179

American Indian baskets were used for storage, as serving dishes, for transporting grain, wood and water, and for ritual or ceremonial use. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, tourists and traders began collecting baskets. The impact of this cash economy upon basket production resulted in innovations and modifications of older shapes and designs. This type of jar-shaped basket (olla) represents a new form produced specifically for sale to tourists. Skillfully decorated with animal figures and geometric motifs, this exceptionally large basket displays the compact stitching and smooth, even texture associated with Western Apache basketry.

JPEG, 64K