Published: November 05, 2007

Outstanding Collection of Traditional California and Nevada Baby Carriers

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By Courtney Puffer

Special Event - Baby Carrier Exhibit

November 7, 2007 to January 31, 2008

Boy's hooppu, by The Sam Sisters, Northern Paiute
Photo: Courtney Puffer

Pacific Western Traders features an outstanding collection of traditional California and Nevada baby carriers by contemporary and historical master artists of the art.

Recent acquisitions are a pair of exquisitely fashioned hooppu by the Sam sisters, Northern Paiute of Ft. McDermitt, Nevada. Daughters of traditionalists Elsie Crutcher Sam and Joseph Sam, Josephine Sam Dick and sister Elva Sam Brown, lifelong residents of Ft. McDermitt, constructed the cradles from meticulously scraped willow withes and hand tanned smoked deer hides, skillfully sewn with deer sinews; one hood decorated with beadwork appropriate to a girl the other to a boy. Elva fashions the hoods - she says scraping the willow takes the longest time in construction - and Josephine the frames. Both sisters work the hides into a buttery texture. The sisters may be alone in their adherence to the use of entirely traditional materials.

Girl's hooppu, by The Sam Sisters, Northern Paiute
Photo: Courtney Puffer

Other new acquisitions include a collection of tutum by Herschel Hedrick, Mountain Maidu of Plumas County. This distinctive style requires an oak frame with a bed and sunshade of finely shaped willow bound with buckskin. Herschel's work is distinguished by his attention to hood configuration, remarkably well-sized and polished willow, and his unique "signature" on each piece. He creates examples in full, doll, and toy versions.

Luwana Quitiquit, Pomo of Robinson Rancheria, Lake County, decided to create a truly traditional sika by fabricating the stitching of hand-rolled dogbane twine to secure the peeled and unpeeled willow withes that make up this "sitting cradle". Untold hours went into the gathering at Clear Lake and preparation of the 100 yards of twine that went into the finished cradle. This may well be the first such example created in well over 100 years, as the use of commercial twines has been universal among the Pomo at least that long.

Additional contemporary cradles are by Theodore Martinez, Atsuge of Modoc County; Clara Charlie, Yokuts/Choinumne of Fresno County; Jennie Dick, Shoshone/Paiute of Inyo; Justin Farmer, Ipai of San Diego County; Meyo Marrufo, Pomo; Rebecca James, Hupa.

Historical examples include fine specimens by Aida Icho, Wukchumne Yokuts; Florence Harrie, Karuk; Clara Harris, Mono; Mollie Jackson, Pomo; Wuzzie George, Paiute; Lizzie Enos, Nisenan; and others.

Each tribal style is distinctive and continues in use and to be treasured as family heirlooms.

Many of the Baby Cradle Baskets were part of the exhibit Precious Cargo,and pictured in the book by the same name; by Brain Bibby with an essay by Craig D. Bates, published by Heyday Books and Marin Museum of the American Indian. The book is now out of print however, we have a good supply on hand for sale to complement our exhibit.

The Gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 to 5:00

For further information contact Courtney Puffer on 916.985.3851, PWTFolsom@aol.com or on the web at www.pacwesttraders.com.