Navajo Traditional Ceremonial Basket [SOLD]

Navajo Ceremonial Baskets, commonly called Wedding Baskets, are constructed with a rod foundation of willow or sumac. The background or light color in the basket is natural sumac. The black and red are dyed. The black dye is derived from sumac leaves, twigs and berries crushed and boiled with a powder made from melted piñon and roasted ocher. The red comes from boiled mountain mahogany roots to which are added ashes of twigs of juniper and powdered bark of black alder.

The design involves a plain center, an area above that consisting of a repeated series of stepped black elements which join a series of stepped red bands, above which is another series of black stepped elements. Finally, the outer area is again plain to the braided rim. An opening, or ceremonial break, penetrates the black and red designs and always extends to the end of the braided rim. One very simple interpretation is that the inner black steps represent the underworld, the red band is the earth and life, and the outer black steps stand for the upper world. The center spot in the basket represents the beginning of this earth as the Navajo emerged.

Most often these red stepped bands would not be stepped but would be three rows of encircling bands with the inner black stepped elements pointing downward toward the center and the outer black stepped elements pointing outward toward the rim.  This basket design is rather unique and represents that the design is not regimented by tribal beliefs but that minor changes are acceptable.

This basket is probably from the mid-1950s but age is not easy to verify. The fabric protruding from the center was put there to prevent sacred cornmeal from falling through the center hole.  That is a traditional feature when a basket is to be used in a ceremonial fashion.  The back side of this basket is heavily coated with cornmeal.  It appears that it certainly was used in some ceremonial fashion.  There is a wire threaded through the back to permit displaying by hanging.

Condition: It is in excellent condition.

Recommended Reading: Navajo Ceremonial Baskets: Sacred Symbols Sacred Space by Georgiana Simpson

Provenance: From a Santa Fe family collection.