H16.585

Basket bowl, red pattern, flaring Maidu Tribe. Extremely large, very rare. "Mush basket for feast."(Dawson,65)[vv,6/91] "Maidu, probably from villages east of Oroville, Feather River area. Feast basket, made of redbud and redbud on a 3-rod coil foundation. Sedge used instead of peeled redbud on base and first quarter of side. The ends are also bound under. The start looks like a Valley Maidu style." (Bruce Bernstein, 7/91) "Not from villages east of Oroville, Feather River area. The start looks like a Valley Maidu (also known as Chico Maidu) style, while the remainder of the basket was apparently woven by another weaver, possibly in the foothills." (Craig Bates, 10/91)

From the History Information Station: "Object: Maidu feasting basket made from three-rod coiling. The design is unpeeled redbud (Cercis ornamentalis), the background is peeled redbud and sage root. The basket dates to the late 19th or early 20th century. It was collected by C.P. Wilcomb, founding curator of the Oakland Public Museum in 1908.History: On ceremonial occasions and during large gatherings, these huge baskets are used to cook the large quantities of food needed to feed the participants and guests. The baskets were filled with acorn mush, the staple food throughout native California. The mush was cooked till it boiled right in the basket by adding red hot stones and stirring briskly. When filled to the top, the basket was so heavy it took several men, using straps tied around it, to move it to the assembly house. There, women dipped the mush out into individual eating baskets." (History Information Station)

Used: food service