Apache Tribe Basketry Water Jar or Tus [SOLD]

Water jars, or tus, were common necessities of the Apache tribes—Western, Jicarilla, and Mescalero Apache—and were generally the same size and shape, with some variations.  Apache women would collect water from a stream in a tus and transfer it to a larger container back at the wickiup.  “Basic requirements in the form of the vessel accommodating this custom included a more or less constricted neck and mouth and a full body.  Among the Jicarilla and Mescalero, the water jar was usually small-necked and very round-bodied, with little deviation from this form.” [Tanner, 1982:30]

Water jars were generally three-rod foundation and coil weave.  Willow rods were used for the foundations and sumac for sewing.  Both the interior and exterior were treated with piñon pitch for waterproofing.  Water bottles varied little in shape among the various tribes.  The standard was a rounded body rolling over at the top from which rises a tall and restricted neck.

This tus shows evidence of piñon pitch on the interior.  A wide circular section of pinon pitch is loose on the interior bottom and a few dabs of pinon appear on the interior wall.  This tus was used as a water bottle.

Condition: this Apache Tribe Basketry Water Jar or Tus is in very good condition

Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman from California.  There is a paper tag attached that states “El Tovar Hotel Grand Canyon,” an indication, perhaps, that this was in the collection of the Fred Harvey Company at the Grand Canyon, or that it was purchased at a shop at the Grand Canyon.

Reference: Apache Indian Baskets by Clara Lee Tanner