WESTERN APACHE BURDEN BASKET - B1013

View Details Western Apache Burden Basket CA 1880 Western Apache burden basket woven around two U-shaped rods in a twined technique in cottonwood or willow. The burden basket was used by the Apache women for carrying; either when moving from camp to camp, gathering firewood, or returning from a trip to the trading post. The basket was worn on the back with the tump line across the forehead to bear the weight of the burden. Burden baskets were and are also used in the Sunrise Ceremony, marking a young girls passage into womanhood. They are filled with gifts and food for the child's godmother and also are used to mark the course of the young girl's race, a part of the ceremony during which the young girl must run Eastward at dawn, a supplication to the sun to instill in the young girl the same vitality as it does with all living things. This burden basket is a beautiful example. The design features three "bands", the middle band being the widest formed by two checkerboard rings facing each other. The band at bottom is formed of a thin top ring with a stepped ring below. The band at the top is formed by two thin double rings. The edge is finished in alternating black and natural bars. The basket is decorated with four strips of buckskin running vertically tracing the support rods. These strips are fringed. Additional fringe has been added near the edge of the basket between the support rods. A round piece of fringed buckskin is sewn to the bottom. Tin cone dangles have been attached at intervals around the rim and across the buckskin strips at top and bottom. Two buckskin loops are attached to one side of the basket originally to hold the tump line. The basket measures approximately 12 1/4 inches at the widest diameter and is 10 1/4 inches tall. ONE ONLY! Please reference Sku # 990901013   SKU: B1013 Price: $2,950.00 Quantity 1  Add to cart

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