Chemehuevi Bowl Basket

ca. 1900

2.5" H x 10.25" D

Hand Woven Bowl with Darker Geometric Pattern Throughout with Red Woven Diamond Shape Patterns

Excellent Condition

The Chemehuevi (also spelled Chemehueve or Chemhueve) are a Southern Paiute tribe historically nomadic across the Mojave Desert in California and Arizona, along the Colorado River. Renowned for their basketry, Chemehuevi artisans created functional and decorative items like bowls, trays, and ollas (water jars) using traditional coiling techniques. These baskets were essential for daily life—storing food, carrying goods, and even cooking via hot stones—and often featured intricate geometric designs symbolizing elements like snakes, stars, diamonds, or fretwork, reflecting the desert landscape and cultural stories.

Provenance:  From the Len and Toni Wood Private Collection, Laguna Beach, California