Three-rod coiled basketry tray with human figures woven out of willow and devil's claw. There are 14 stitches per inch and 6 1/2 coils per inch. Condition is excellent.

Known as quality weavers,  the Yavapai and their cousins, the Western Apache, wove baskets that are quite similar. Yavapai baskets are generally symmetrical, whereas Western Apache baskets are more random in design.

Beginning around 1900, they began to include human figures in their baskets, in large part as a response to demand by Anglo buyers. The baskets with human and animal figures remain highly desirable today.

This basket was formerly in a Pennsylvania Collection.

"Marcy Burns"