Polychrome Cylindrical Jicarilla Apache Basket with Lid [SOLD]

Jicarilla Apache basketry covers a long span of time, but very little is known of their work before they were settled on a reservation in 1887 in northern New Mexico. All Jicarilla baskets are of coil weave, usually of sumac, but sometimes of willow.

Hampers were definitely a concession to the non-Indian buyers. The decoration on the exposed surfaces of Jicarilla baskets traditionally fades to a soft palette from the original strong palette of the commercial dyes used. Mostly, baskets of this age have faded so badly that the original decoration cannot be discerned. The condition of this one is very good and the pattern is quite discernible.