Material / Technique:
Three rod coiled, sedge, valley quail topknot, acorn woodpecker scalp feathers, western bluebird feathers, glass, and abalone
Physical description:
Basket, covered with red & blue feathers. Pendants of glass beads & abalone shell row of shell wampum, & row of quail tips around border. Type called "Sun Basket
Content description:
From the History Information Station: "Object: Basket made of sedge root by three-rod coiling. It is decorated with acorn woodpecker scalp feathers, western bluebird feathers, quail topknots, and clam shell disk bead pendants. It was collected among the Pomo of Calistoga, Napa County, and dates to the late 19th or early 20th century. It was acquired by C.P. Wilcomb, founding curator of the Oakland Public Museum, circa 1910. History: Elegant feathered baskets like this one are made as a mark of wealth and prestige. Feathered baskets were never used, but were given as gifts to important people, or on special occasions such as a marriage. They were also used as funerary offerings and were cremated along with the deceased at the time of death, and at the mourning ceremony a year later."
Consultation and/or research has led us to believe that this item is not considered funerary or culturally sensitive. However, affiliated Tribe(s) determine the cultural significance of their items. If this item is a part of your heritage and you wish to contact us about it, please email nagpra@museumca.org.
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