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Puebloan Native American Basketry (5)

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:70.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 400.00 USD
Puebloan Native American Basketry (5)
Presented in this lot is a collection of Puebloan Native American Basketry including Hopi, Pima and Navajo. Native American baskets were functional objects for daily life, but they also had significant spiritual and cultural meanings. They were often used in ceremonies such as weddings, births, and deaths. Baskets would be filled with sacred items such as tobacco or cornmeal that were used to bless the people who came together to celebrate or mourn. Baskets made from sumac were commonly used by Hopi girls during ceremonies where they preserved the memory of first-world people by making them as toys or dolls. Southwestern Indians (Hopi and Navajo) make baskets from tightly coiled sumac or willow. Several plants produce dyes used in basketry; for instance, wild plum bark generates a yellow color while the dried bark of sumac bushes is ideal for creating a rich reddish-brown hue. Juniper berries or elderberries deliver shades of purple, Oregon grape turns fabric blue while madder root produces red tones. In many Southwest tribes’ cultures red symbolizes vitality and energy. The coiled and twinning construction is sturdy as well as highly artistic. Good conditions, the one basket has a well-fitting lid. The largest measures 9.25"W x 12.25"L x 2.5"H, the smallest is 6" diameter x 2.5"H, collective weight 2lb, 2oz.