Author Description

The classic book on traditional Indigenous basket weaving written by the renowned 19th-century lecturer and writer of the American West. Native American basket weaving is an intricate and powerful art, representative of the legends and ceremonies of the Indigenous nations and their cultures. George Wharton James’s Indian Basketry is an invaluable aid for the artist, designer, craftsman, or beginner who wants to recreate authentic and often extinct basket forms and decorative motifs of the Native American peoples. Filled with 355 illustrations and photographs of Native American basket weavers taken at the turn of the twentieth century, this pioneering study—first published in 1901—provides in-depth information about specific aspects of Indian basketry, including: Its role in legend and ceremony The origins of forms and designs Materials and colors used Weaves and stitches The symbolism and poetry woven into each basket Preservation Tips for the collector And much more! From Yolo ceremonial baskets to Oraibi sacred trays, Indian Basketry traces the origin, development, and fundamental principles of the basket designs of the major Indigenous tribes of the southwestern United States and Pacific Coast, along with comments on the basket weaving of a number of other North American tribes.