Unknown Maker, Yokuts

Dances, such as the one depicted on this basket, were an important part of Yokuts ritual life. Dances were held for seasonal ceremonies and for more mundane reasons, such as to prevent snakebite.

Anonymous gift 1997.24.9

This oval basket came with a gift of 23 Native American baskets from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the best period for the most skilled western basketmaking tribes.

This gift expands exponentially the range and quality of our already good American Indian basket collection, and allows us to show beautiful examples from many areas and many periods. Yokuts baskets are known for their texture, the result of coiling bundled plant material. The design of 45 figures holding hands is extremely charming and is characteristic of these oval baskets made in California's central valley.