Apache burden basket with a butterfly pattern woven by Evelyn Rope. This basket is 10” wide by 8” high. It was woven from willow and has deerskin trim and 14” tassels with tin cones.
The burden basket was actually used as a utility basket for gathering food, fire wood, or other items when out in the fields. The tin cones at the end were for scaring off snakes in the field. Today the smaller burden baskets are used in young girl’s puberty ceremony (known as the Sunrise Ceremony.)
Evelyn gives credit to learning basket making from her husband’s relative, Novena Cobb. As her techniques improved, several women offered tips to improve her work.
About the artist
Evelyn Rope
Evelyn Rope was born on the San Carlos Reservation. She is full blood Apache from the Ajija Clan. Evelyn is a noted basket weaver who has numerous awards from several prestigious shows throughout the western United States.
Evelyn gives credit to learning basket making from her husband’s relative, Novena Cobb. As her techniques improved, several women offered tips to improve her work. There are presently only four weavers in the San Carlos area producing coil baskets. Most of the young Apache women don’t want to take the time for making the baskets. Evelyn Rope wants to keep the art of Apache basket weaving alive; she gives demonstrations and teaches classes at a local public school to give the young people an interest in the art.
