Several basketmakers bought materials from weavers who had collected
more than they needed. Others had "rough" weavers save their finer materials
for them. There was also more trading of materials from one region to another,
which may have compensated for the lack of burns and modern vehicles of
transport to gathering sites. Weavers today face serious problems in the
reduction of quality gathering sites for many materials and the widespread
use of chemical applications, which in California is at its all time high.
Certain materials are now seldom used by basketmakers. Redwood and cottonwood
roots are no longer gathered by contemporary weavers. The most important
root material seldom used today is wild grape root. In 1929 weavers who
were doing very fine work often preferred wild grape root as a beautiful
material that could be woven in the smallest strands.
|