Large California Yokuts Coiled Basket [SOLD]

The Yokuts, whose members traditionally spoke the Yokutsan language lived in the central San Joaquin Valley region of California.  Their territory stretched roughly from Stockton in the north down to Bakersfield in the south.  They were formerly called the Tulare Indians by the Spanish settlers, meaning "people of the tules," tule being a type of marsh plant found in the shallow lakes and wetlands that once existed throughout traditional Yokuts territory. They were at one time a very large tribe with estimates of 25,000 to 35,000 people in 1772 when the Spanish first arrived in the area. Today their population has shrunk to a fraction of that number.

The Yokuts were well known for their beautifully woven polychrome baskets with some of the very finest North American Indian baskets coming from the hands of Yokuts weavers.

This large oval basket is of the type that was used for serving food at social and religious functions where large numbers of participants needed to be fed. Many of these were lined up filled with food including the staple acorn mush.  There is no indication that this one was used for that purpose.

This highly visual basket has the classic Yokuts design bands of stylized rattlesnakes running diagonally from top to bottom.  The placement of the design gives the basket a very dynamic visual appeal.

Condition:  very good condition; very minor stitches missing mostly on the bottom.

Provenance: from a gentleman basket collector in Colorado

Recommended Reading:  Yurok-Karok Basket Weavers by Lila M. O’Neale