Learn About the Art > About Indian Basketry > California > Northern California > Basketry Technology
Basketry Technology - Weaving Methods of Northern Californian Tribes
Coil Method
The method of using a bundle of grass or rod foundation over which weft was coiled, common to the tribes of Southern and Central California. This was only used by the southernmost of the Northern California tribes such as the Yana and Yuki, and are so rare as to not be examined in depth in this section of our website. See our Central California and Southern California sections for more information on coiled basketry.
Twined Method
The dominant method of weaving was through twining which is essentially passing weft over and under radiating warp rods.
The nature of the twining can vary depending on how many wefts are handled; with two wefts twisting around each warp called “plain twining” and three wefts passing 2 over and 1 under each warp, then alternating, called “three-strand twining”. Sometimes a reinforcing horizontal rod, sewn at a right angle to the warps, with a technique called “lattice twining” is seen on baskets; particularly personal food bowls which take constant use. This twining is of two wefts which wrap around the horizontal rod and attach it to the basket's warps. This is mostly used on the exterior of the basket, but sometimes seen on the interior.
The dominant method of weaving was through twining which is essentially passing weft over and under radiating warp rods.
The nature of the twining can vary depending on how many wefts are handled; with two wefts twisting around each warp called “plain twining” and three wefts passing 2 over and 1 under each warp, then alternating, called “three-strand twining”. Sometimes a reinforcing horizontal rod, sewn at a right angle to the warps, with a technique called “lattice twining” is seen on baskets; particularly personal food bowls which take constant use. This twining is of two wefts which wrap around the horizontal rod and attach it to the basket's warps. This is mostly used on the exterior of the basket, but sometimes seen on the interior.
Basketry Identifying Characteristics
The Western tribes used half-twist overlay and the Eastern tribes used full-twist overlay in their motif. Eastern tribes baskets tend to be taller-sided and more simply designed than the Western tribes' baskets by using
isolated motif elements, although this is not always the case.
Generally speaking, the Hupa and Chilula make extensive use of the light colored bear grass against the natural brown conifer root, with only modest use of the black and even less red colors in their overlay.
Whilkut baskets, in addition to having both full and half-twist overlay, are generally more colorful, through the use of the red alder dyed or black fern stem.
Yurok basketry is similar to the Hupa in form and technique, using the half-twist overlay and the same warp and weft materials, but the Yurok normally make much greater use of the black maidenhair fern creating denser black patterns; their work is very fine and their variety of forms is extensive.
Karok basketry is of half twist like the Hupa and Yurok, but make the most extensive use of red alder dyed fern stem, especially in the field.
The Wintu, Shasta, Atsugewi (Hat Creek) and Achomawi (Pit River) are all NE Northern California tribes which used the Full-Twist overlay technique which is easy to identify as the pattern is view-able on both the exterior and interior of the basket. All used open and closed twining and their baskets are generally taller and less complex in pattern than the NW tribes baskets. The Atsugewi used more redbud in their overlay than the Achomawi, and the Wintu used alder dyed fern for their red overlay (which was relatively rarely used). The Atsugewi often used latice twining on the base, unlike the Achomawi. Shasta baskets are hard to differentiate from the other groups.
All Northern California tribes used Bear Grass (white) and maidenhair fern stem (black) in their overlay.
The Western tribes used half-twist overlay and the Eastern tribes used full-twist overlay in their motif. Eastern tribes baskets tend to be taller-sided and more simply designed than the Western tribes' baskets by using
isolated motif elements, although this is not always the case.
Generally speaking, the Hupa and Chilula make extensive use of the light colored bear grass against the natural brown conifer root, with only modest use of the black and even less red colors in their overlay.
Whilkut baskets, in addition to having both full and half-twist overlay, are generally more colorful, through the use of the red alder dyed or black fern stem.
Yurok basketry is similar to the Hupa in form and technique, using the half-twist overlay and the same warp and weft materials, but the Yurok normally make much greater use of the black maidenhair fern creating denser black patterns; their work is very fine and their variety of forms is extensive.
Karok basketry is of half twist like the Hupa and Yurok, but make the most extensive use of red alder dyed fern stem, especially in the field.
The Wintu, Shasta, Atsugewi (Hat Creek) and Achomawi (Pit River) are all NE Northern California tribes which used the Full-Twist overlay technique which is easy to identify as the pattern is view-able on both the exterior and interior of the basket. All used open and closed twining and their baskets are generally taller and less complex in pattern than the NW tribes baskets. The Atsugewi used more redbud in their overlay than the Achomawi, and the Wintu used alder dyed fern for their red overlay (which was relatively rarely used). The Atsugewi often used latice twining on the base, unlike the Achomawi. Shasta baskets are hard to differentiate from the other groups.
All Northern California tribes used Bear Grass (white) and maidenhair fern stem (black) in their overlay.