This Panamint Shoshone polychrome basket is an outstanding example of Panamint basketry as is reflected by its distinguished collection history. It has survived the years in remarkable condition and is a desirable addition to any Native American basket collection.

This basket has rare collection history as most collectors in the late 19th century and early 20th centuries did not keep detailed records. Eva Slater wrote about this basket in her seminal work, Panamint Shoshone Basketry (Sagebrush Press, 2018), p. 104 and it is pictured in Antique Native American Basketry of Western North America, A Comprehensive Guide to Identification by John Kania and Alan Blaugrund (Marquand Books Inc, Seattle, 2014, Plate 81), p. 156.

It is important to remember that the Panamint Shoshone Indians lived in Death Valley, whose very challenging environment magnified the necessary tasks of searching for food and water. In spite of their migratory habits, the best Panamint weavers wove exquisite baskets.