Phoenix, AZ | 602-906-1633
  

 Celebrating Our 26th Year 

14" Navajo Wedding Basket with Corn Meal

Artist Unknown

About The 14" Navajo Wedding Basket with Corn Meal

As this basket has resident corn meal and the remnant of cotton fabric at its center, it was likely used in an American Indian citizen's wedding ceremony.

The "Navajo wedding basket", as it is commonly called (even though often they were fashioned by the Pauites for the Navajo people) is an important ritual vessel for many other types of ceremonials in addition to weddings.

The traditional red and black pattern on neutral ground is consistent with all "wedding baskets". Its spiritual symbolism is difficult to translate-both, into words from feeling and into English from Dine culture. The red open circle is like a naja-symbol of the womb and source of life. It is bordered by black, stepped peaks inside and out. These peaks are home, mother earth, the sacred places.

Just as the red and black are tied together in one design, the Dine (the People) are one with the earth that gives them sustenance. During ceremonials the basket is filled with the appropriate corn meal mixture--from which each participant takes a portion to eat. As the basket is passed from person to person, the design opening is kept facing the east--direction of sunrise, new beginnings, new life.

For weddings, blue corn meal, ashes and water are used to make a gruel or "mush" which is consumed by the wedding participants in ritual "communion".

Corn is the most important single food element in traditional Dine culture. It is a gift from the Creator and mother earth to maintain life and has come to represent life itself and Dine connection with the earth. For this reason, a basket with traces of cornmeal in the weaving is very desirable. It has been "blessed" with ritual use.

 A properly wall mounted wedding basket should always be hung with the design opening toward heaven--to catch the Creator's blessings.

This information was relayed by a Dine gentleman and his wife.

Savvy Price $285.00

Gallery Price $350.00

Item Location: Phoenix, AZ
  Shipped To You

  
 
  Pick It Up FREE!  
Add to Cart
Quick Inquiry Email Friend Print
Product Details
Description

As this basket has resident corn meal and the remnant of cotton fabric at its center, it was likely used in an American Indian citizen's wedding ceremony.

The "Navajo wedding basket", as it is commonly called (even though often they were fashioned by the Pauites for the Navajo people) is an important ritual vessel for many other types of ceremonials in addition to weddings.

The traditional red and black pattern on neutral ground is consistent with all "wedding baskets". Its spiritual symbolism is difficult to translate-both, into words from feeling and into English from Dine culture. The red open circle is like a naja-symbol of the womb and source of life. It is bordered by black, stepped peaks inside and out. These peaks are home, mother earth, the sacred places.

Just as the red and black are tied together in one design, the Dine (the People) are one with the earth that gives them sustenance. During ceremonials the basket is filled with the appropriate corn meal mixture--from which each participant takes a portion to eat. As the basket is passed from person to person, the design opening is kept facing the east--direction of sunrise, new beginnings, new life.

For weddings, blue corn meal, ashes and water are used to make a gruel or "mush" which is consumed by the wedding participants in ritual "communion".

Corn is the most important single food element in traditional Dine culture. It is a gift from the Creator and mother earth to maintain life and has come to represent life itself and Dine connection with the earth. For this reason, a basket with traces of cornmeal in the weaving is very desirable. It has been "blessed" with ritual use.

 A properly wall mounted wedding basket should always be hung with the design opening toward heaven--to catch the Creator's blessings.

This information was relayed by a Dine gentleman and his wife.

About the Artist

"Unknown artist" is appropriate when a work of art is unsigned and a supported opinion about who made it is not available (on Savvy Collector).. "Attributed to" precedes the name of an artist when information suggests that it likely was made by that artist (on Savvy Collector).

Culture American Indian
Medium Multiple rod foundation. Dyed and natural sumac is the weft material. Corn meal and remnant of cotton cloth at basket's center.
Size 14" diameter, 3" height
Coil count 2 coils per inch
Stitch count 11 stitches per inch
Date of creation Circa 1955
Condition Excellent to good, due to orange sumac dye fade
Other Works by Artist Unknown
Scotty Chasing Rooster, Prints by Artist Unknown Mask by Carver from Kenya, Wood by Artist Unknown Rocky Divided Face Bookends, Metal by Artist Unknown Gold Finished American Indian Bookends, Metal by Artist Unknown Ribbed Coral & Silver Distinctive Cuff, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Pastoral Scene with Cows and Leafy Trees, Paintings by Artist Unknown Village Amidst a Stand of Trees, Paintings by Artist Unknown Mayan-Themed Silver & Gold Cuff Links, Jewelry by Artist Unknown His Just Desert from The Wasp, Prints by Artist Unknown Vorshrift with Tulips & Blue & Yellow Pinwheel, Drawings by Artist Unknown Majestic Tufa Cast Silver Navajo Cuff, Jewelry by Artist Unknown 1930's Turquoise Buckle, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Navajo or Hopi Made Silver & Turquoise Necklace, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Hopi or Zuni Knife Wing Guardian Earrings with Blue Gem, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Planished Sterling Silver Flatware (3), Silver Flatware by Artist Unknown Indian on Horseback Wearing Headdress, Bookends by Artist Unknown Vintage Bookends Inspired by Fraser's End of the Trail sculpture, Bookends by Artist Unknown Antique 1925 Bronze American Indian School Sport Mascot Bookends, Bookends by Artist Unknown Navajo or Zuni Three Stone Sterling Bracelet, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Mexican Silver Cuff Links, Aztec Motif, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Hopi Or Navajo Tufa Cast 3 Strand Sterling Cuff, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Seated Male American Indian Holding Bow, Bookends by Artist Unknown Navajo or Zuni Squash Blossom featuring Kingman Turquoise, Jewelry by Artist Unknown After Jenning Brothers Bookends, Bookends by Artist Unknown Sterling Kachina Necklace and Earrings , Jewelry by Artist Unknown Tohono O'odham Oval Figurative Basket, Baskets by Artist Unknown Antique Art Deco American Indian Motif Pair of Bookends, Bookends by Artist Unknown Signal Fire Readiness on Deserted Beach, Paintings by Artist Unknown Santo Domingo Turquoise Heishi Necklace with Coral Accents, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Four Zuni Nugget-Cut Turquoise Sterling Bracelets, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Rich Figurative Blue Gem Turquoise Ring, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Sterling Silver Ring with Carved Malachite Face, Jewelry by Artist Unknown 1920's-1930's Ingot Silver Cuff 33 Cerrillos Mine Turquoise, Jewelry by Artist Unknown 1920's-1930's Wide Silver and Turquoise Cuff, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Blackhawk Bookend (just one), Bookends by Artist Unknown End of the Trail 4 1/4" Bookends, Bookends by Artist Unknown Zuni Sterling Potted Flowers Pendant/ Pin, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Mohave or Mojave Pitcher with Frog Effigy, Pottery by Artist Unknown Seated Indian Hunters with Bow and Arrow, Bookends by Artist Unknown Cree Woman's Deerskin Moccasins Embroidered with Red Flowers, Wearing Apparel by Artist Unknown Two Tone Stoneware Charger, Pottery by Artist Unknown Havasupai Twined Basketry Bowl w/ First Place Ribbon, Baskets by Artist Unknown Early 1900's Navajo Ingot Copper Bracelet, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Appeal to the Great Spirit theme, Bookends by Artist Unknown Cast Iron Bookends, mid 20th century or earlier, Bookends by Artist Unknown Stone Mano, Grinding Stone, Odd but Great by Artist Unknown 16" diameter Polished Teak Sphere, Sculpture by Artist Unknown 12" Diameter Polished Teak Wood Sphere, Sculpture by Artist Unknown Cole Manufacturing Bronze Archer Bookends, Bookends by Artist Unknown Three (3) Zia Pottery Buttons, Pottery by Artist Unknown Two Zia Polychrome Pottery Buttons, Pottery by Artist Unknown The Chief Pair of Iron Bookends, Bookends by Artist Unknown Danish Mid Century Modern Enamel Pin, Jewelry by Artist Unknown Polychrome Acoma Jar , Pottery by Artist Unknown Small Apache Burden Basket, Baskets by Artist Unknown Rosenkranz Silver & Enamel Crucifix, Jewelry by Artist Unknown
Similar Items
Will Vandever Navajo buckle Tohono O'dham basket