Degikup

Culture: Washoe artist
Date: 1915–20
Material: Willow and dyed bracken fern
possibly made in: California, United States, North and Central America
possibly made in: Nevada, United States, North and Central America
Classification: Basketry, containers
Collection: Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Current Location: Not on view
Dimensions: 5 1/4 x 9 3/4 in. (13.3 x 24.8 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Miss Caroline G. Roth
Rights: Public Domain
Object Number: 914:1920

NOTES

This degikup, or small mouthed gift bowl, exemplifies the quality and artistry of Washoe craftsmanship. Baskets such as this one are constructed from the base upwards, by tightly coiling locally-harvested willow shoots and wrapping them around supple willow branches in perfectly uniform stitching. The artist further embellished this degikup by integrating dyed bracken fern to create vivid “lightening” and “quail” designs. Some of the finest Washoe basketry ever woven was created for the tourist market of Lake Tahoe, California during the late 19th and early 20th century.

We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.