Burden Basket
Pomo
1870–80
Medium
Plant fibers
Dimensions
53.3 × 61 cm (21 × 24 in.)
Classification
basketry
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
181737
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Northern California is the ancestral home of numerous Indian tribes, many of which speak different languages yet share a similar culture and an artistic tradition centering on basketry. The Pomo were especially accomplished designers and weavers of baskets for all purposes, and the cone-shaped burden basket is a well-known form in their artistic repertoire. This example is in excellent condition considering both its age and the fact that it was subjected to practical use. (As an object made for ...