POMO OVAL GIFT BASKET

George Terasaki, New York, probably acquired in the 1960s

This tightly-woven coil basket exhibits a beautiful zig-zagging pattern, accentuated by delicate beads. The graceful shape of the basket itself adds to its harmonious aesthetic. In Pomo communities, both men and women alike are basket makers, although in general women weave the coiled, twined or feathered baskets used for cooking or storing food.