Linda Aguilar

Chumash

Fine Horsehair Basketry

Linda Aguilar’s basketry is part of the permanent collection of outstanding examples of contemporary art in the Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. Her baskets have also been shown at the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, The Stagecoach Museum at Newbury Park, CA (they have over 100 in their permanent collection), as well as many others around the world. When Nelson Mandela of South Africa visited Los Angeles, Mayor Tom Bradley presented him with one of Aguilar’s baskets; as well, The Dalai Lama has been presented with her baskets.  Aguilar has won over 50 “first place” or “best of show”.

Aguilar was taught to weave at an early age, and it is as much a part of her life as walking and talking.  The truth is she does not remember how or when she learned to weave.  It is something she has always done. “A lot of people say I was spirit taught,” she says.  She is what native people would call a “contrary” or clown.  Frequently getting her inspiration from dreams, as a contrary she infuses a sense of humor into work and avoids negative influences.  Aguilar refuses to watch anything but comedy or love stories on television whilst weaving.  As well, she will not weave if she is sad or upset, lest she weave unhappiness into the basket.

Horsehair Baskets

Story Teller Basket: Coiled natural horsehair with linen thread, many miniature baskets, horse feathers, clam shell disks, glass beads, shell and other found items. 5.5" D. x 3" H.  Inspired by the Story Tellers (a seated pottery figure with many children sitting on her lap) of the Pueblo Natives in New Mexico. Inquire for price.

Two extended neck shouldered baskets.   Left: Coiled natural horsehair with linen thread, horse feathers (inspired by the Pomo feathered baskets) and clam shell disks. 2.5" D. x 2.75" H.  Right: Coiled natural horsehair with linen thread, beach stones, painted driftwood, pine nit shells, glass beads and other found items. 5" D. x 3" H.

Two lidded baskets. Left: Coiled natural and dyed horsehair with linen thread, with horse feathers (inspired by the Pomo feathered baskets), carved bone, glass beads and shell.  Right: Left: Coiled natural horsehair with linen thread, horse feathers (inspired by the Pomo feathered baskets), carved bone, glass beads and shell.  Both approximately 1.25" D. x 1.25" H.

Beaded basket.  Coiled natural horsehair with linen thread and glass beads woven into the structure of the basket (inspired by technique used in Pomo beaded baskets). 4" D. x 2.5" H.

A small selection of the miniature horsehair baskets that are offered.  Basket range in size from 1" to 3" D. x .75" to 1.5" H.  Some are lidded. 

Video: A TREASURY OF CALIFORNIA BASKETS. Tree of Peace Productions, 1993. Written and narrated by Gregory Schaaf, Ph.D. Linda Aguilar is a featured artist. TRT 49 minutes. $29.95

Theodore Martinez
Atsugewi/Achomawi

Baby Carrier

Wild cherry, willow, brain-tan smoked buckskin, glass seed beads, worked in "crane leg" pattern around hood.   Length 28-3/4; Width 11-3/4. $800

Everett Pikyavit

Southern Paiute

Gift Basket: Willow and devil's claw

Two Gift baskets:

Willow with glass beads.

Left: Conical gathering basket

Willow, Sunburned willow & dogbane twine.

Center: Olla;

Willow & Sunburned willow.

Right: Seed Jar;

Willow, Sunburned willow & dogbane twine.

Left; Seed Jar;

Willow, Sunburned willow & dogbane twine.

Right: Olla;

Willow & Sunburned willow.

Top: Winnowing Basket; peeled willow and redbud.

Below: Larvae Gathering basket; peeled willow.

Luwanna Quitiquit

Pomo

Three Baby Baskets:

From the top:

Full size, new born & toy;

All peeled & unpeeled willow

with dogbane cordage.

MABEL McKAY
(1907-1993)
Pomo

Preeminent among traditional California weavers, Mabel McKay demonstrated weaving and conducted weaving classes at PWT from our opening on October 1, 1971 until December 1988, after which ill health prevented. A respected tribal scholar and renowned healer and spiritual leader as well as master weaver, she possessed a sense of humor that both amused and enlightened. She lectured at universities, served as a cultural consultant for anthropologists, and as an Indian doctor, healed many lives. As a basket weaver her skill and attention to every stitch brought worldwide recognition to her basketry, and her baskets found their way into many museum collections in the U.S. and abroad. PWT maintains a permanent collection of her work.

The year following her death, a book focused on her career was published by the University of California Press, and shortly afterwards a series of videos memorializing her and two other famed Pomo weavers was released. These publications are all available from PWT.

Book: MABEL McKAY: WEAVING THE DREAM by Greg Sarris. University of California Press, 1994. 165 pp. $29.95 Cloth.

DVD: POMO BASKETWEAVERS: A TRIBUTE TO THREE ELDERS. Part 3- features Mabel McKay - The People, the Plants, the Rules. Creative Light Production, 1994.  TRT 29:00 each part $60.00

Jennie McCann Dick

Shoshone/Paiute of Coleville, Mono County, California

Born December 21, 1941 - Yerington Paiute Tribe Roll #0421

Baby Basket

Fashioned of vertical willow sticks. Girl's/boy's design is woven into the hood with red and blue yarn. Lacing and trim is made of buckskin. Length 30".

Recent Basket Acquisitions Offered

Konkow Maidu Storage Basket

C.1900

5.5" high, 7.5" diameter

Willow & redbud

Washoe

C. 1910

4" high, 5.75" diameter

Willow, bracken fern & redbud

from the Dr. Balpitt collection

Fine Panamint Lidded Bottleneck

C.1900

5" high, 6.5" diameter

Willow & bulrush