Pomo Cradle Basketry

ca. 1875 - 1880

12" H x 19" L x 14" W

Hand Woven Cradle with Painted Red Inside and 6 Tabaco Sacks Hanging from Bar for Baby to Play with

Excellent Condition with Typical Aged Wear

The Pomo, an indigenous group from Northern California encompassing seven distinct linguistic and cultural subgroups (including Central, Northern, and Southeastern Pomo), are renowned worldwide for their exquisite basketry. Among their most culturally significant creations are cradle baskets—intricately woven carriers designed to hold and transport infants. These baskets embody not just utility but deep spiritual, familial, and ecological connections, serving as symbols of continuity for future generations. Pomo basketry, particularly cradles, was historically crafted almost exclusively by women, using wild-harvested materials from the diverse landscapes of Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake counties.

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