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Steve Geldman, on left, presented the two Kawaiisu baskets on behalf of his family to Harold Williams, Janice Williams and their great niece Ronneigh Quiroga.
(Photo: C. White) |
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A closer view of the larger basket shows the intricate weaving techniques used to create the outstanding symmetry, the careful control and evenness of the stitches and the beautiful, subtle colors of a traditional Kawaiisu basket.
(Photo: C. White) |
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Geldman Family Repatriates Baskets to Kawaiisu Tribal Collection
by Charles White
At a luncheon ceremony on June 9, Stephen and Virginia Geldman, on behalf of their family, presented two Kawaiisu baskets to Harold Williams and Janice Williams for inclusion in the tribal collection of Kawaiisu artifacts that Harold oversees. They were acquired from Vic Phillips when the Geldman family lived at the Township of Monolith and later in Tehachapi in the 1950s and 60s.
Stephen, who lives in New York, and his mother Virginia, who lives in Anaheim, traveled to Tehachapi for the special presentation. They represented the family in making the presentation. They feel strongly that, although they have enjoyed the baskets in their homes for decades, the baskets really belong in Tehachapi where the public can study and enjoy them.
The baskets were made by Sophie Williams, Harold and Janice’s grandmother. The larger basket has a typical Kawaiisu pattern and is woven on a wrapped coil foundation of deer grass. The smaller basket has a lightning bolt pattern and follows the same typical weaving style, further indentifying them as indigenous to the Kawaiisu. The soft colors from the strands forming the traditional designs woven into the baskets come from natural plant life rather than from dyes. The reddish brown strands are from the Joshua tree root and the black are from a plant known as unicorn plant or devil’s claw.
Both baskets will be exhibited in the new Kawaiisu Gallery to open later this summer at the Tehachapi Museum in the newly constructed addition. |
