Page 11 - yukibasketry_kelly1930

1930] Kelly: Yuki Basketry 427

pattern running diagonally in the opposite direction. The intersecting
diagonal might also be described as a series of contiguous V figures
with the open end of the Von the rim of the vessel. The intersecting
diagonal occurs six times in all; the associated motifs occur as fol-
lows: one instance each of a plain, solid color diagonal (fig. 3c), a
stepped diagonal, a diagonal of irregular zigzag form; and three
instances of the quail tip.
The diamond diagonal is simply a more intricate phase of the
intersecting diagonal. With this, the V-shaped figures run from
the bottom as well as from the rim, the apices meeting halfway down
the side of the basket. This intersection naturally forms a series of
superimposed V figures which, when contiguously placed, outline a
diamond-shaped enclosure. This form of the diagonal occurs seven
times and is almost invariably composed of a series of stepped
quadrilaterals (pl. 124h).
The disposition of coiled basketry decoration may be summarized
as follows:

Baskets
Vertical .................................................................................... 12
Plain horizontal ...................................................................... 31
Pattern horizontal .................................................................. 8
Simple diagonal ..... ................................................................... 9
Intersecting diagonal ............................................................ 6
Diamond diagonal .................................................... ...... ........ 7
Undecorated ............................................................................ 5

78

Relation of Design to Shape of Basket
A strong correlation between design and shape of the basket might
be· expected but such seems not to be the case. Horizontal banding,
the most frequent decorative device, is found on all shapes repre-
sented. Baskets with sharply flaring sides tend to have the horizontal
design arrangement; the intersecting diagonal is found principally on
vessels of round or incurving sides. Aside from these two tendencies
the associations of shape and design are not marked.
In practically all cases the design is present on the bottom as well
as the sides regardless of whether the basket is deep or plate-like. The
bottom design is often dimmed, if not obliterated, by wear.