Collections: Arts of the Americas: Coiled Presentation Bowl

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Coiled Presentation Bowl

This especially fine basket is attributed to Mary Kea'a'ala Azbill because its fine construction and design are characteristic of her work, as is the use of the dark-brown briar root. Such elaborate baskets were made for presentation to family, close friends, and anthropologists. The design has been called bahu ("grapevine leaf") and wings-and-lightning. Mary Kea'a'ala Azbill was a remarkable woman. She was the daughter of a Maidu woman, Alvina, from the village of Taiyum Koyo, and a Hawaiian man, Iona Ke'a'a'la Kiana, of noble birth. For a time after her parents' death, she lived in Hawaii and was the kahu (teacher) in King Kalakaua's household. She spoke eight languages. On returning to California, in addition to weaving she often acted as interpreter and guide for collectors and anthropologists such as the Brooklyn Museum curator Stewart Culin.


• Maker: Mary Kea'a'ala Azbill, Maidu, 1864-1932
• Medium: Sedge root, briar root, willow shoots
• Place Collected: Upper Lake, California, USA
• Dates: late 19th-early 20th century
• Dimensions: height: 8 in. (20.3 cm) diameter: 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm)
• Collections: Arts of the Americas
• Museum Location: This item is not on view
• Accession Number: 06.331.8050
• Credit Line: Museum Expedition 1906, Museum Collection Fund
• Image: Overall, 06.331.8050.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
Mary Kea'a'ala Azbill (Maidu, 1864-1932). Coiled Presentation Bowl, late 19th-early 20th century. Sedge root, briar root, willow shoots, height: 8 in. (20.3 cm) diameter: 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1906, Museum Collection Fund, 06.331.8050 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 06.331.8050.jpg)
• Catalogue Description: Coiled tan basket with brown, triangle-like designs. The bark design elements are woven in briar root, which has limited distribution in California. While it is a difficult material to trim and work with it is a favorite material of Mary Azbil and she used it especially on baskets she made for family and friends. The design layout requires a great deal of planning and patience. Presentation baskets are invariably fancier than everyday containers and this basket appears to have never been used for food.