Fascinating First Nations Basket Weaving
Two women basket weavers with their kids in the 1800's.(wow, that is NOT a happy photo!)
Howdy folks and greetings from the Great Plains of North Texas!
While I was doing research for Herman's story, mostly looking for time period photos, I kept finding excellent examples of baskets which were woven by the Comanche and Apache women. I was so taken by the unique and intricate designs that I wanted to share a few of them.
Most Indian baskets were shallow dishes or trays used for food preparation, this is an example:
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Side note
You'll notice that one of the figures on the basket looks like a Nazi swastika. This was one of the common designs in ancient American Indian tribes and is called The Swirling Log pattern. Here's an explanation which explains it better than I can:
The Whirling Log symbol is associated with a narrative involving a man (sometimes called the Culture Hero) who takes a journey down the San Juan River in a hollowed out log canoe.
During his adventure, he encounters whirlpools and a special event where the San Juan River meets the Colorado River. There he comes upon a whirling cross with Yei figures seated on the cross. From the yeis he learns much knowledge which he takes back to his people.
So it's a positive thing, not a horror symbol. They also used it on jewelry:
Obviously you will only find the symbol on antique jewelry and baskets made before 1940.
Many of the tribes were famous for their basket weaving and the Apache were one of those. They used baskets for everything from food preparing and storage to fetching water from the river or lake(they coated the insides with pine sap which waterproofed them), to ceremonial uses.
An Apache girl going for water on the rez. There's no way she's carrying that back on her head if it's full of water!
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The basket weavers used secret methods which were handed down from generation to generation for thousands of years and the women who survived the Indian wars and ravages of the white man's diseases continued making baskets on the reservations.
In fact, that's what one of my favorite paintings by Zhou Shu Liang is about, the tribes selling handcrafted wares in the street markets(I hope they gouged those Palefaces good!):
When the Great Depression came along in 1929 the sales of baskets begane to dry up so the basket weavers stopped making them. Modern manufacturing and metal cookware was one factor but the Depression itself caused the majority of buyers to stop spending.
This highly detailed type of basket is no longer made. This basket made in the 1800's would probably sell for 60 to $100,000. If not more.
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After WWII sales to tourists picked back up but by that time the old basket weavers using the very intricate patterns were either dead or not willing to spend months making one basket anymore. It just wasn't worth the sacrifice in time and effort.
I'll continue with more baskets and vintage photos tomorrow.
Thanks for reading folks, God bless you all!
-jonboy
Texas
The baskets are quite the collector's item. The work is so beautiful.
The eastern Indians also have the same symbol. The reversed swastika I was not aware the Indians here had it.. Hilter reversed it from its original form as we see the Indians use as to use it for evil.
Howdy rebeccabe! I agree about their work, I wish I had a bunch of those baskets. lol.
Indeed they do not look happy in the first photo and the history of the Symbol is so little know people only think of it in relation to being the swastika
Howdy JJ! yeah, that stupid Hitler ruined that symbol for all time!
Yes for many he did, but there are also cultures that still look at it in its original form and intent
Well that's good. I doubt if Europe does. lol. That's not funny though.
No your right on both counts :)
Incredibly beautiful baskets @janton We can certainly admire them but do we really appreciate the skill that goes into making them especially when intricate patterns are used? I hope this craft will always be handed down to the generations as it is so special.
The people in the first picture were not too happy about getting their photo taken were they? And I can see why that painting by Zhou Shu Liang is one of your favourites. It has so much life and character in it and portrays fashion, expression and location brilliantly. (U & R)
Oh thank you so much for the resteem Trudee and you expressed why I like that last painting better than I could! lol. Exactly right on, it's like we are right there in 1930 or so and you love street markets so I can see you there. Except maybe not in the long dress! lol.
The baskets are amazing but they aren't making the complex designs anymore unfortunately but they are making really nice baskets to this day, just not the ones with the real small, tight weaves that take months to do. I'll have more to show tomorrow. Then after that I'll show the mind-blowing pottery! lol.
I wonder why everyone was crying in the 1st photo.
Cowboy, I don’t know if many realize Hitler was not the first one to use the swastika.
Swastika, a cross with arms, the same length, bent at right angles, all in the same direction was an ancient symbol of prosperity and good fortune. The symbol was used by many cultures centuries before being adopted by the Nazi party.
I agree, very true but the Nazis ruined that symbol forever didn't they? They all look so miserable in that first photo, I'd love to know what the situation was but those kids were NOT having fun! lol.
Yes, it’s too bad the mystical symbol has been given a bad rap. On the positive side, perhaps it was somehow connected with the strength of this symbol that finally stopped Hitler.
I was thinking the kids didn’t want to sit still for the photo and when one started crying it spread and they all cried.
lol. Yes I think you nailed it with the photos. I just found another one last night of one of the ladies just by herself though, I'm sure the other one was trying to watch all those kids! The lady still looked miserable but then no one ever smiled for photos in the 1800's.
I have a basket made by an old Ojibwe woman 30 years ago. She was going to quit making them because the young men of the Tribe traditionally would gather the willow and pound it until it separated into strips. She said the boys were to lazy now to gather the willow for her baskets.
oh wow, and oh no! lol. That's so interesting but also disappointing. I'd gather the willow for her and pound it! Does the basket have a pattern? How you doing today? I've been out working all day and been running in and commenting every once in awhile!
Howdy janton, such a shame that the lovely 'whirling log symbol' is forever marked as a the terrible 'dark' swastika symbol. Thanks for this bit of information, my learning for today.
ps: I really like the Native American Proverb janton, simple and to the point.
I agree, it's another good one!
Howdy angiemitchell! yes, they ruined that forever didn't they? Now people freak out if they see it.
Yes they do but not me from now on!
Me too, I will still appreciate antique jewlry and basket patterns knowing that the symbol has a good meaning behind it.
I wonder what kind of paint they did use for making patterns on their basket!
That symbol is very old and appeared in most old culture. It’s something to do with the flow of energy observed by ancient people.
That old Hitler was obsessed with the occult and religious symbols. So, that symbol was taken from Tibet during their team of expedition! They switched the direction of the four arms in the opposite direction in order to invoke bad energy! It’s all very ‘woo woo’ (to borrow the word from Cliff High)!
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Howdy sir kamincha! oh, very interesting, the Asians used this symbol too? It must have been universal and then Hitler ruined it by using it!
Very creative and artistic. They use basket to carry water? wow
Howdy sir Vincent! yes, by making them waterproof with pine sap which was like tar. Amazing huh? They used them for so many things. And the designs are so creative and artistic.
Howdy Jonboy, thanks for the explanation. Waterproof the baskets with pine sap eh - interesting. Yup, amazing, and beautiful designs too.
Things taking a great deal of patience and skill always amaze me, maybe because I have neither! lol.
Of course you have a skill. We all have skills of some sort. You just haven't realized it yet. lol
what's your skills sir Vincent? Reading people and making conversation? That had to be a specialty of yours wasn't it? And you have painting skills also.
Howdy Jonboy. You know me better than I do. I don't know what other skills I have. Let me find out first, then I will let you know. lol
But I have a long wait for that information because you claim to be lazy and don't care about anything! lol.
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Now I know that that swastika symbol is not limited to Nazi alone. However, it still symbolizes evil though because of the Nazi reference. The baskets seem durable, no? What beautiful unique patterns they are.
Howdy sir leeart! yes, many of the baskets were made of willow wood so they were extremely strong and durable. And that's so true, Hitler ruined that symbol for all time I think.