Large Yavapai Apache Jar, circa 1900 [R]

The members of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, a sovereign Native American tribe from the Verde Valley, Arizona, have two culturally distinct backgrounds and speak two indigenous languages. The Yavapai originate from Yuman-speaking peoples known as the Pai and the Apache descend from an Athapaskan background similar to other Apache groups to the East.

Originally, the Yavapai and Apache tribes were separate and distinct tribes who coexisted peacefully for several hundred years. They have existed as one tribal nation since 1934. The Yavapai-Apache Tribal reservation is located at Camp Verde, about 90 miles north of Phoenix and 50 miles south of Flagstaff, along Interstate 17.

This large pictorial olla dates to the late nineteenth century. It is constructed with a 3-rod willow foundation, and willow and devil’s claw stitching. Human forms and wolves provide the decoration.

The attribution to the Yavapai as the origin is based on the overall net pattern that covers the entire surface of the basket and the checkerboard pattern just under the rim. Both these are traits of the Yavapai Apache.

The overall condition of the olla is very good. There are some missing stitches and one point on the rim where the rods are broken which can be seen in the second detailed image (click link above).