The Kawaiisu Indians lived in Kern County, California. They are renowned for having woven high quality baskets that are very similar in design and form to their neighbors, the Tubatulabal, the Yokuts, and the Panamint. Most Kawaiisu baskets make ample use of dyed bracken fern along with willow, Joshua Tree root, and occasionally, devil’s claw.

This bottleneck basket is very unusual because of the preponderance of design in Joshua Tree root, which is red-brown. There is one row of dyed bracken fern at the base. The light material is willow. The design is also somewhat rare with two sections of rhythmic lightening design dominating the body of the basket, broken by three rows of Joshua Tree root which form a central solid line midway.

The stitch count is excellent (16 stitches per inch and 9 coils per inch). The form of the basket is beautiful and it is in excellent condition.

 Presenting itself as a work of beauty, this basket is very appealing. Clearly the weaver was very skilled as well as an innovative artist.

$4800.

(B0899)

[California]