Artwork Page for Doctor's Basket, Canoe- shaped

Details / Information for Doctor's Basket, Canoe- shaped

Doctor's Basket, Canoe- shaped

1890

California, Pomo, 19th century

Medium
coiled, with shell and yellow glass beads
Measurements
Overall: 14.5 x 44 cm (5 11/16 x 17 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
Presented by William Albert Price in memory of Mrs. William Albert Price 1917.480
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

Oblong baskets like this one, which range in size from miniatures to examples more than four feet long, are sometimes said to have been used by native doctors to store medicines and paraphernalia such as rattles. This one, however, probably was made not for native use but for sale to a turn-of-the-century collector.
A tan canoe-shaped coiled basket is defined by horizontal ridges and repeating dark brown triangles. Within the dark fields, clusters of white shell beads with yellow glass centers form upward-pointing patterns. Four flat, circular white shell discs are attached to the upper rim. The shallow vessel exhibits a meticulous geometry, where the dark triangles and shell accents punctuate both the interior and exterior of the rhythmic, woven structure.

Doctor's Basket, Canoe- shaped

1890

California, Pomo, 19th century

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