Vintage Apache Burden Basket 3 Rod Foundation 8" Tall 9.5" Across 9" Fringe

Description

This Burden Basket is from my personal collection.  I purchased it in about 1995 at a small trading post in the desert of New Mexico, not known before that.
The burden basket of the Native American Apache tribe is one of the most recognized baskets of American Indians. Traditionally, burden baskets were originally used in everyday life for gathering wild foods and harvesting crops like corn. Large burden baskets were also used for food storage and have been used for generations. Burden baskets are also an integral part of Apache history being used in their rituals and ceremonies. This basket is 9 1/2" in diameter by 8" tall and the fringe is 9".  There are 20 9" fringes attached to the bottom of the basket and 8 15" fringes attached at the "four directions" of the basket.  The burden baskets are created in various sizes. They are very labor intensive to weave so today they are usually made in small sizes of about 2 to 4 inches in diameter to be hung by a door or used for home decorating. It is only for very special occasions that baskets of 12" or larger are made.  Larger baskets are exceptionally rare and large baskets that were actually used in a ceremony are all but unattainable. The Apache basket is a cultural treasure.  The traditional method of construction is with a 3 rod foundation (see photos) then willow shoots are woven which makes the baskets tight, stiff and sturdy with no bend to them.  This weaving yields rounded well-defined coils that stand out.  This beautiful basket has a leather buckskin strap as well as strips of leather buckskin with metal cone jingles representing the four directions of earth revered in Native American culture. There are also the buckskin strips and jingles hanging from the bottom of the basket.  According to Apache tradition, burden baskets are always cone shaped, with a flat or rounded bottom.  Buckskin and tin jingles were added to enhance the basket. Adult size burden baskets almost always have a buckskin strap that is used to to carry the basket.  As the baskets were carried through the day while working the tin cones would jingle to scare away snakes that may be nearby.  The traditional custom of the Apache, is to hang these baskets outside the home and visitors to the house are to place their burdens in the basket before they enter the home. The saying "leave your burdens at the door" originated with these baskets. The burden basket is a symbol of pride for the Apache people.
Measurements:   8" tall   by   9 1/2" across top     Bottom measures about 5" across
Fringe is 9"        Hand cut Tin Jingles are 1 1/4"
Questions???  Please ask before purchasing to avoid any misunderstandings.