Basket c. early 20th century

natural stone pattern

circular oval feature

pottery

cake food

wood background

stoneware

warm toned

warm palette

united-states

warm-toned

natural palette

This Navajo (Diné) basket, created in the early 20th century, is a stunning example of traditional Native American craftsmanship. The basket is intricately woven with a circular design and features a concentric pattern of brown, red, and black, adding visual depth to the piece. This basket, now housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, showcases the skilled weaving techniques used by the Navajo people to create functional and aesthetically pleasing objects.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Although making baskets is not a vital role of Diné culture, baskets serve many important functions in their ceremonies. The Utes and Southern Paiutes, for example, have made wedding baskets in great quantity for trade with the Diné since before 1890. They are shallow in form with radiating designs and are made from sumac. The colors and designs of these baskets have symbolic meaning. The center represents Diné ancestry and the beginning of life. Moving outward from the center, the black symbolizes the rain clouds or darkness. The red concentric bands are the red and pink of the sky and sun. The outermost white band is said to represent the tribe's population growth. The narrow pathway breaking the encircling bands creates an opening from the center to the outer edge of the basket and is called the shipapu. It symbolizes the path of communication between the ancestral and present worlds and orients the basket to the east, in honor of the rising sun.