 |  |  |  |  |
| HOME - SHOPPING - EVENTS - CONTACT US |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
A very rare Chumash coiled basketry bowl, from the late 18th century
sold for $90,475.00 in Skinner’s American Indian & Ethnographic Arts
auction, held on January 11, 2003 in Boston. Additionally, a similar
Chumash artifact, a very rare California polychrome coiled basketry
tray from the late 18th century sold for $49,350.00.
sold for $90,475.00 in Skinner’s American Indian & Ethnographic Arts
auction, held on January 11, 2003 in Boston. Additionally, a similar
Chumash artifact, a very rare California polychrome coiled basketry
tray from the late 18th century sold for $49,350.00.
Chumash Basketry
The Chumash were known for their excellent baskets and exported
them to other tribes even in pre-European times. Baskets played
essential roles in all aspects of Chumash life -- for gathering,
storing, preparing and serving food, holding water, keeping money
and other valuables, measuring acorns for trade, carrying babies,
in gambling, as gifts, and for ceremonies. Even the Chumash
house was much like an upside-down basket.
them to other tribes even in pre-European times. Baskets played
essential roles in all aspects of Chumash life -- for gathering,
storing, preparing and serving food, holding water, keeping money
and other valuables, measuring acorns for trade, carrying babies,
in gambling, as gifts, and for ceremonies. Even the Chumash
house was much like an upside-down basket.
The Chumash used both twined and coiled weaving techniques. It is for their beautiful coiled baskets -- trays, bowls
of all sizes, treasure baskets and hats -- that the Chumash are most renowned. The coiled baskets have a spiraling
foundation of three slender rods of juncus rush, wrapped and sewn together with split strands of the same material.
of all sizes, treasure baskets and hats -- that the Chumash are most renowned. The coiled baskets have a spiraling
foundation of three slender rods of juncus rush, wrapped and sewn together with split strands of the same material.
Twined baskets include leaching basins, sieves, fish traps, cradles, and water bottles. Most were made from whole
juncus rush stems or split tule (bulrush). These were woven by twisting weft strands around rigid warps that
radiated from a central point like spokes on a wheel.
juncus rush stems or split tule (bulrush). These were woven by twisting weft strands around rigid warps that
radiated from a central point like spokes on a wheel.
The baskets are usually natural straw tan in color, with designs in black. The juncus stalks were dyed black by
burying them in dark mud, or by soaking them in water with acorns and a piece of iron. The natural reddish-orange
base of some stalks was used separately to fill in designs, or even as the entire background color.
burying them in dark mud, or by soaking them in water with acorns and a piece of iron. The natural reddish-orange
base of some stalks was used separately to fill in designs, or even as the entire background color.
Chumash basket designs are easy to recognize. Most have a "principal band," a sort of border about an inch wide,
below the rim. Below that, designs may include vertical bars, horizontal bands, zigzags, stepped lines, or an
all-over network pattern. Some of the geometric design elements have names: Little Deer, Arms (called Quail
Plumes among other tribes), Points, and Butterfly. The Chumash rarely wove rattlesnake designs and did not put
pictorial figures of humans or animals on their baskets. Small blocks of alternating dark and light stitches called
"rim ticking" frequently provide the finishing touch on the last row.
below the rim. Below that, designs may include vertical bars, horizontal bands, zigzags, stepped lines, or an
all-over network pattern. Some of the geometric design elements have names: Little Deer, Arms (called Quail
Plumes among other tribes), Points, and Butterfly. The Chumash rarely wove rattlesnake designs and did not put
pictorial figures of humans or animals on their baskets. Small blocks of alternating dark and light stitches called
"rim ticking" frequently provide the finishing touch on the last row.
The Chumash wove their coiled baskets tightly enough to hold water. They were also used to boil water. The
Chumash would add hot rocks until the water came to a boil.
Twined basketry bottles were less tightly woven but were coated on the inside with asphaltum to make them
watertight. To do this, the Chumash powdered hard tar and put it into the finished bottle along with small heated
stones. They shook and rotated the basket to melt the tar until the inside of the basket was covered with it; then
poured out the rocks. They filled the basket with water and left it overnight to cure before refilling it with fresh water.
Chumash would add hot rocks until the water came to a boil.
Twined basketry bottles were less tightly woven but were coated on the inside with asphaltum to make them
watertight. To do this, the Chumash powdered hard tar and put it into the finished bottle along with small heated
stones. They shook and rotated the basket to melt the tar until the inside of the basket was covered with it; then
poured out the rocks. They filled the basket with water and left it overnight to cure before refilling it with fresh water.
The skilled, adaptable Chumash continued to produce baskets despite the cultural upheavals of history, until the
last old-time weavers died around 1915.
last old-time weavers died around 1915.
Today there are probably about 400 Chumash baskets existing in museums and private collections around the
world. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has the largest collection of Chumash baskets in the world.
world. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has the largest collection of Chumash baskets in the world.
Extraordinary baskets, with coin designs and Spanish words
woven with over 220 stitches per square inch, were made in
mission times.
woven with over 220 stitches per square inch, were made in
mission times.