Karok Bowl Basket

ca. 1900

4.875" H x 9.5" D

Hand Woven in Golden Tan, Brown and Dark Brown Colors in a Triangle Geometric Pattern with a Raised Double Line Detail 1.25" from Rim

Excellent Condition

The Karok (also spelled Karuk) people are an Indigenous tribe native to Northern California, primarily along the Klamath River in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties. Their name, Karuk, means "upstream people," distinguishing them from downstream neighbors like the Yurok. Karok basketry is renowned worldwide for its exceptional craftsmanship, tight twining techniques, and intricate designs. Basket weaving is a traditional art form central to Karok culture, used for practical purposes like food storage, cooking, and gathering, while also serving ceremonial and artistic roles. Among these, the bowl basket (often called an acorn bowl or food bowl) is a classic form—shallow, rounded vessels designed for serving and eating foods like acorn mush, a staple prepared from leached acorns.