Diné Very Old Ceremonial Basket from Marti Struever Collection [SOLD]

This Diné ceremonial basket appears to date to the early twentieth century based on the patina it displays.  It is the traditional design of all Diné ceremonial baskets but is by far a much more carefully woven one with tight stitches over a single rod foundation.  It was one of the Diné baskets retained by Santa Fe dealer and collector Marti Struever. 

The designs in Diné baskets have significance and depending on the interpretation can symbolize the creation myth, life’s journeys or be a map of the Navajo cosmos. The simplest interpretation is that the white center is the emergence area, or area of birth. The black coils represent clouds or four sacred mountains. The red band is the sun’s rays which bring life. There is always a line from the center of the basket to the outer rim, a path from the center for the Spirit to come and go. The pathway meets at the outer edge where the weaver has stopped coiling.

There is a Diné silver moccasin button in the center of the basket as an anchor for hanging the basket on a wall.  It can be retained or removed.

Condition: this Diné Very Old Ceremonial Basket from Marti Struever Collection is in very good condition for a basket of its age

Provenance: from the estate of Marti Struever of Santa Fe

Recommended Reading: Navajo Ceremonial Baskets: Sacred Symbols Sacred Space by Georgiana Simpson

Relative Links: Navajo, Native American Baskets, Marti Struever