Traditional Diné (Navajo) Ceremonial Wedding Basket [SOLD]

It has been speculated that early Diné basket designs might have derived from their blanket designs. It has also been surmised that the opposite might be true. In either case, we can say that the current basket design known as the “wedding basket” developed from the designs in their earlier baskets.

In Navajo baskets, the only colors are black and a deep, russet red. Black is made in several ways, resulting in a range of colors from dark gray to jet. The red results from a mixture of juniper root, mountain mahogany root, alder bark, and burnt juniper needles.

This basket features only a dark brown decoration on the front, because of fading. The full design is viewable on verso.

The distinctive feature of older baskets is the single- or two-rod foundation, resulting in a finer weave and smoother walls than the later three-rod wedding baskets. The rims are always woven in a herringbone pattern. This is a distinctive Diné characteristic that was eventually adopted by the Paiute when they started making wedding baskets for the Diné.

This basket is in very good condition. There is some fading of the design on the front but it is strongly visible on verso. I would estimate the age to approach 80 years or so.