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Klamath River Basin Basketry Caps

cap01
Yurok basketry cap
1 of 45
cap01side
Yurok basketry cap, side detail
2 of 45
cap01top
Yurok basketry cap, detail of start
3 of 45
cap05
Basketry cap
4 of 45
cap05side
Basketry cap, side detail
5 of 45
cap05top
Basketry cap, detail of start
6 of 45
cap06
Basketry cap
7 of 45
cap06side
Basketry cap, side detail
8 of 45
cap06top
Basketry cap, detail of start
9 of 45
cap07
Hoopa or Karuk cap
10 of 45
cap07side
11 of 45
cap07top
Hoopa or Karuk cap, detail of start
12 of 45
cap08
Basketry cap
13 of 45
cap08side
Basketry cap, side detail
14 of 45
cap08top
Basketry cap, detail of start
15 of 45
cap09
Basketry cap
16 of 45
cap09side
Basketry cap, side detail
17 of 45
cap09top
Basketry cap, detail of start
18 of 45
cap11
Basketry cap
19 of 45
cap11side
Basketry cap, side detail
20 of 45
cap10top
Basketry cap, detail of start
21 of 45
cap12
Basketry cap
22 of 45
cap12side
Basketry cap, side detail
23 of 45
cap12top
Basketry cap, detail of start
24 of 45
cap13
Basketry cap
25 of 45
cap13side
Basketry cap, side detail
26 of 45
cap13top
Basketry cap, detail of start
27 of 45
cap14
Basketry cap
28 of 45
cap14side
Basketry cap, side detail
29 of 45
cap14top
Basketry cap, detail of start
30 of 45
cap16
Basketry cap
31 of 45
cap16side
Basketry cap, side detail
32 of 45
cap16top
Basketry cap, detail of start
33 of 45
cap17
Basketry cap
34 of 45
cap17side
Basketry cap, side detail
35 of 45
cap17top
Basketry cap, detail of start
36 of 45
cap18
Basketry cap
37 of 45
cap18side
Basketry cap, side detail
38 of 45
cap18top
Basketry cap, detail of start
39 of 45
cap20
Basketry cap
40 of 45
cap20side
Basketry cap, side detail
41 of 45
cap20top
Basketry cap, detail of start
42 of 45
cap22
Klamath or Yurok cap
43 of 45
cap22side
Klamath or Yurok cap, side detail
44 of 45
cap22top
Klamath or Yurok cap, detail of start
45 of 45

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Basketry caps from southwest Oregon and northwest California are close-twined rounded hats traditionally worn by women for special occasions and as standard dress. These hats were made primarily by Hoopa, Karuk, Tolowa, Wiyot, Yurok, Shasta, and Klamath peoples. Also called fancy caps, they are known for their geometric design motifs in half-twist overlay, in materials such as beargrass, hazel, and maidenhair fern. Overlay is an embellishment in which an additional material of contrasting color covers the weft element; half-twist overlay is only visible on the outer surface. Hat designs are often segmented into three zones--rim, central design, and base--divided by horizontal banding or a row of wrapped twining above and below the central design.

Shasta caps from northeast California and Oregon (made by Shasta, Pit River, and Klamath peoples) are generally taller with isolated motifs. The basketry caps shown here were made between AD 1890 and 1920, but this tradition continues today among contemporary weavers. Photography by Chris White, text by Elizabeth Kallenbach, and web development by Keith Hamm. Images © UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Production of this gallery was generously supported by The Ford Family Foundation.