Washoe basket weavers are highly regarded for their finely executed basketry. This is a classic tightly coiled and beautifully rounded degikup. During the early 19th century, Washoe women, and most notably Dat so la lee (or Louisa Keyser), wove exquisite degikup for the curio trade. Value for their artistry, nonutilitarian or “fancy baskets” such as this degikup, were woven from willow. Their design was created with bracken fern, as is this case here, and also redbud. This basket may have been made by Scees Bryant Possack (1858–1918), Dat so la lee’s sister-in-law and a respected weaver in her own right.

Western Great Basin basket-beading techniques are somewhat unique. As seen on this miniature by Sandra Eagle, the basket is made first then beads are sewn individually in the interstices of the basketry stitches.

Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian
Ongoing

The National Museum of the American Indian  |  George Gustav Heye Center  |  New York, NY

Press | Credits