Antique Jicarilla Apache Indian Polychrome Basketry , c. 1910; 6" x 15 1/2"

Description

Offered by
Antique American Indian Art, llc
---AAIA---
Rare Antique Jicarilla Apache Indian Polychrome Basketry
c. 1910
6" x 15 1/2" d
A fine coiled basketry bowl of sumac, with natural and trade dyes.
Minor wear, overall in Excellent Condition.
---
About the collectors in the family.
I think my grandparents George & Anna Siemantel acquired the majority of the pieces. She loved the pottery. He rugs & jewelry. He had an auto dealership during the war and did a lot of trading in NM. He also was foreman for the railroad roundhouse in Las Vegas NM. (He was from Topeka KS and she from Ft.Madison IA) In addition, the two of them and my great uncle, Phillip Schlapp owned a ranch in NE NM. It is now the Elliot Barker Girl Scout Ranch at Angel Fire NM. Phillip & Anna were 2 of 7 siblings. One of the other sisters taught in Watrous NM. And she & her siblings traveled in the summer. I think a lot of the baskets were their acquisitions.
Also my mom & aunt Margaret knew Mabel Dodge Lujan & there was a connection to Frida Lawerence. But darn! I remember talk when I was a kid. Wish I'd had more of an idea of the interest. I remember my aunt's excitement sharing with my mom that Mabel had written to her.
---
The Jicarilla Apache occupy a small reservation centered in and around the town of Dulce just below the Colorado border in north central New Mexico. The name Jicarilla is said to be from the Spanish word for “little basket.” Jicarilla is the Spanish diminutive (little) for the word jicara, which, according to linguistic scholars, is a Hispanicization of the Mexican Nahua word xicalli. The xicalli, or jicara, was the gourd-like fruit of the Central Mexican jicaro tree. The term was also used for the round, wide-mouth drinking cups that were made from this fruit, and eventually the word became synonymous with any kind of drinking vessel, especially those used by Mexican Indians for chocolate.
At the time of the Spanish Entrada into New Mexico, the Jicarilla Apaches were manufacturing gourd-shaped, piñon pitch covered, waterproof baskets that were used to carry water. It is speculated by many scholars that these gourd-shaped basketry water bottles resembled the jicaras that were pervasive in Mexico and are the origin of the tribe’s Spanish name. Like their Navajo neighbors, the Jicarilla historically referred to themselves by the Athabascan word Diné, or “the people,” but to the outside world they are now Jicarilla.
No matter the precise origin or etymology of the word, the Jicarilla have been famous for their baskets since long before the coming of the Spanish, and it is a major part of their tribe’s cultural identity. As is typical with Athabascan people, the Jicarillas prefer to work with sumac for their base material, though they will sometimes use willow or mulberry.
201128-28
Welcome to Matt Wood's  Antique American Indian Art, llc  (AAIA) eBay Listings
As the nation’s leading gallery of Antique North American Indian Art and Artifacts, we invite you to consider the beautiful art and artifacts that we list on eBay with full confidence in the authenticity and legality of the item, in the accuracy of the listing, and in the professionalism that we demonstrate in processing each transaction.
Celebrating over 45 years in business, Matt Wood and Len Wood are founding members of ATADA (Antique Tribal Arts and Dealers Association), and we provide you, the collector, a unique opportunity to buy directly from our gallery inventory via eBay. We offer Certificates of Authenticity, a 7-day home inspection period allowing returns for full refunds (less shipping/insurance costs), and a lifetime trade-back policy (call for details). We are confident that you will be pleased with the value, service and peace-of-mind that our gallery can offer you.  Thank you for looking!
SHIPMENT
We package all items for shipment in the utmost professional manner, and all shipments are fully insured. Please read our Store Policies for all of our shipping information.
PLEASE FOLLOW US - If you hit the FOLLOW THIS SELLER link on the top right of this listing under the Seller Information button, you will be able to get the early notices of our new additions and sales.  We will be adding lots of quality Antique American Indian Art over the next few months.