The Western Apache and Yavapai Indians are related. Clara Lee Tanner, in her seminal work Apache Indian Baskets [U of AZ Press, Tucson, AZ, c1982], states that it can be difficult to differentiate between San Carlos (Western Apache) and Yavapai baskets. These two groups lived together on the same reservation and wandered together before reservation days and the weavers influenced each other in terms of designs and techniques. (Ibid.,“San Carlos versus Yavapai Basketry”, pp 178-181). In general, however, many people feel that Yavapai baskets are more symmetrical in their designs, with the Western Apache often adding or placing random elements in their basketry designs. That is why we have labelled this basket as “Apache/Yavapai”.

The negative design that highlights the sun’s rays is a very powerful design. The additional decorative element of the cross in negative space may refer just to that, the cross, or the weaver may have used the cross as a reference to stars in the skies. Either way, this basket has a very powerful visual impact and it has survived the years in excellent condition.