Indian Baskets of Central California

Art, Culture, and History

by Ralph Shanks

Everyone wanting to understand and appreciate California Indian culture needs this book. Nothing was more vital to Native California life than the baskets everyone used each day. Baskets ranged from tiny miniatures so small that they could sit on the head of a pin, to huge feast baskets so large that, when filled, took four men to lift. Learn how baskets were used in weddings, as gifts, in seed processing, cooking, gathering, hunting, fishing, trapping, as baby cradles and even divorces! Basketry of the Miwok, Ohlone, Pomo, Maidu, Patwin, Wappo, Nomlaki, Yuki, Esselen and others across Central California are described in unprecedented richness, and shown with over 200 beautiful full-color photographs.

176 pp ~ illustrated — ©2006