Published: November 19, 2007
Cradle Baskets (Baby Carrier) Exhibit
By Courtney Puffer
November 17, 2007 to January 27, 2008
An outstanding collection of traditional California and Nevada baby carriers by contemporary and historical master artists of the art.
Each tribal style is distinctive and continues in use and to be treasured as family heirlooms.
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.
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 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; Myrtle McCoy, Pomo; Wuzzie George, Paiute; Lizzie Enos, Nisenan; and others.
Some of the cradles had been part of the exhibit Precious Cargo and pictured in a now out of print book by the same. We are fortunate to have a supply of the book PRECIOUS CARGO California Indian Cradle Baskets and Childbirth Traditions, by Brian Bibby with and essay by Craig D. Bates.
Pacific Western Traders is open Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 to 5:00 and located at 305 Wool Street in Historic Folsom, California.
For further information contact Courtney Puffer on 916.985.3851 or PWTFoslom@aol.com, web site: www.pacwesttraders.com.
See also a previous story (with photos):
Outstanding Collection of Traditional California and Nevada Baby Carriers
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