COLLECTORS OF AMERICAN BASKETRY. [20] 



texture and gives a very rough and clumsy appearance to the surface, 

 as will be seen in fig. 37. In every culture province of America wher- 

 ever graves have been opened the bone stiletto has been recovered, 

 showing the widespread use of threads or filaments emploj^ed in joining 

 two fabrics, or for perforating those alreadj^ made to receive coil work 

 and other embroideries. 



Coiled basketry in point of size presents the greatest extremes. 

 There are specimens delicately made that will pass through a lady's 

 finger ring, and others as large as a flour barrel; some specimens have 

 stitching material one-half inch wide, as in the Pima granaries, and in 

 others the root material is shredded so fine that nearly 100 stitches 

 are made within an inch of space. In form, the coiled ware maj^ be 

 perfectly flat, as in a table mat, or built up into the most exquisite jar 

 shape, in design the upright stitches lend themselves to the greatest 

 variety of intricate patterns. 



VARIETIES OF COILED BASKETRY. 



Coiled basketry may be divided into nine varieties, based on struc- 

 tural characteristics. The foundation ma}^ be (1) a single stem or 

 rod; (2) a stem with a thin welt laid on top of it; (3) two or more 

 stems over one another; (4) two stems laid side by side, with a welt; 

 (5) three stems in triangular position; (6) a bundle of splints or 

 small stems; (7) a bundle of grass or small shreds. 



The stitches pass around the foundation in progress (1) interlock- 

 ing, but not inclosing the foundation underneath; (2) under one rod 

 of the coil beneath, however many there may be; (3) under a welt of 

 the coil beneath; (4) through splints or other foundation, in some 

 cases systematically splitting the sewing material underneath. With 

 these explanations it is possible to make the following nine varieties of 

 coiled basketry, matting, or bagging: 



A. Coiled work without foundation. 



B. Simple interlocking coils. 



C. Single-rod foundation. 



D. Double-stem coil, two-rod foundation. 



E. Packing inclosed, rod and ivelt foundation. 



F. Packing inclosed, two-rod and splint foundation. 



G. One rod inclosed, three-rod foundation. 

 H. Splint foundation. 



I. Grass-coil foundation. 

 K. Fuegian 'coiled basketry. 



These will now be taken up systematically and illustrated (fig. 31). 



A. Coiled work without foundation. — Specimens of this class have 

 been already mentioned. The sewing material is babiche or fine raw- 

 hide thong in the cold north, or string of some sort farther south. In 

 the Mackenzie Basin will be found the former, and in the tropical and 

 subtropical areas the latter. If a plain, spiral spring be coiled or 

 hooked into one underneath, the simplest form of the open coiled work 



