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- 230507-04 Western Apache Basketry Winnowing Basket with Checkerboard Motif
230507-04 Western Apache Basketry Winnowing Basket with Checkerboard Motif
ca 1900
3 1/8" H x 12 5/8" D
The Western Apache coiled basketry is always on a three rod foundation (usually willow) with weft of light colored willow, black devil's claw seed pod husk and sometimes we will see the red yucca root used for a third color. The shallow basket bowls like this were often used for both winnowing and roasting. To winnow, the nuts or seed would be lightly cracked and then tossed allowing the thin skin and shell to blow off. To roast, small hot coals would be placed in the basket with the nuts / seed and by moving the basket continually and tossing the nuts / seed and coals together, the food would be roasted. Often several rounds of roasting were needed for the nuts to be fully cooked. Sometimes we see baskets with darkening spots which indicate that coals slightly scorched the basket.