WESTERN APACHE BURDEN BASKET - B1058

View Details Western Apache Polychrome Burden Basket CA 1875 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 an especially fine one in its age, condition and workmanship exhibiting the Apache artistry in basketry as well as leatherwork. The design features four bands (most exhibit no more than three). The two center bands of checkers are flanked at the bottom by a band of repeating lightning figures and at the top by an unusual design of repeating lightning figures, the tops being solid and the bottoms checkered for an unusual blurred effect. The rim is finished in black devil's claw. The basket is decorated with four strips of brain-tanned 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 brain-tanned buckskin is scalloped along the edge with holes cut into the scallop tabs to reveal the red trade cloth underneath. The deer hide tump line loops are reinforced inside with two sticks arranged vertically to distribute the weight. The basket measures approximately 16 1/2 inches at the widest diameter and is 13 inches tall.   SKU: B1058 Price: $8,500.00 Quantity 1  Add to cart

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