Elizabeth Conrad Hickox | |
---|---|
Born | ca. 1872/1875 Karuk Territory, California |
Died | California | July 19, 1947
Nationality | Wiyot Tribe |
Known for | Native American basketry |
Spouse(s) | Frank Merrill, Luther Hickox |
Patron(s) | Grace Nicholson |
Elizabeth Conrad Hickox (1872/5–July 19, 1947) was a Wiyot master basket weaver and was considered one of the finest basket-weavers of her time. [1] Her baskets differ from other Lower Klamath baskets through her own unique use of shape, technique, color scheme and design. [2] [3]
Elizbeth Conrad Hickox's birth year has been given as 1872 [2] and 1875. [1] Hickox's mother was Wiyot and her father, European-American. [4] It was reported that Hickox's mother, Polly, had been abducted by her later husband, Charles Conrad. [5] When Elizabeth was in her teens, she married Frank Merrill ( Karuk), and they had two children together, Jessie and Bruce. [6] She later married Luther Hickox in 1895. [6] Luther Hickox owned a gold mine, was a part owner of a sawmill and later became a justice of the peace. [4] The couple enjoyed a high social status among the Karuk people, as well as financial security. [6]
Hickox lived along the Salmon River in Northern California. [1]
Hickox used various materials to weave her baskets including grape root twining, white bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax), dyed Woodwardia fern, black maidenhair fern and dyed porcupine quills. [7] She tended to use the fern Adiantum aleuticum, a dark material in contrast to the porcupine quills dyed yellow with Letharia vulpina. [8] The choice to mostly use dark materials contrasted with the yellow was her own choice, and not subject to marketplace demands. [9] Between 1911 and 1934, she made about five baskets a year. [8]
Hickox and her daughter, Louise, weaved and sold their baskets to Grace Nicholson, who continued to buy their work even during the Great Depression. [10] Though Hickox was Wiyot, Nicholson marketed her baskets as " Karuk" because they lived in the Karuk area. [4] Before Hickox met Nicholson, she had already chosen to create fine-art baskets. [11] After Nicholson stopped purchasing baskets in 1934, Hickox continued to weave "for pleasure, utility and gift-giving." [12]
In 2020, the art of Hickox was exhibited in the exhibition Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. [13]
Hickox died on July 19, 1947. [14]
Elizabeth Hickox's baskets can be found in numerous public collections, including the following:
Elizabeth Conrad Hickox | |
---|---|
Born | ca. 1872/1875 Karuk Territory, California |
Died | California | July 19, 1947
Nationality | Wiyot Tribe |
Known for | Native American basketry |
Spouse(s) | Frank Merrill, Luther Hickox |
Patron(s) | Grace Nicholson |
Elizabeth Conrad Hickox (1872/5–July 19, 1947) was a Wiyot master basket weaver and was considered one of the finest basket-weavers of her time. [1] Her baskets differ from other Lower Klamath baskets through her own unique use of shape, technique, color scheme and design. [2] [3]
Elizbeth Conrad Hickox's birth year has been given as 1872 [2] and 1875. [1] Hickox's mother was Wiyot and her father, European-American. [4] It was reported that Hickox's mother, Polly, had been abducted by her later husband, Charles Conrad. [5] When Elizabeth was in her teens, she married Frank Merrill ( Karuk), and they had two children together, Jessie and Bruce. [6] She later married Luther Hickox in 1895. [6] Luther Hickox owned a gold mine, was a part owner of a sawmill and later became a justice of the peace. [4] The couple enjoyed a high social status among the Karuk people, as well as financial security. [6]
Hickox lived along the Salmon River in Northern California. [1]
Hickox used various materials to weave her baskets including grape root twining, white bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax), dyed Woodwardia fern, black maidenhair fern and dyed porcupine quills. [7] She tended to use the fern Adiantum aleuticum, a dark material in contrast to the porcupine quills dyed yellow with Letharia vulpina. [8] The choice to mostly use dark materials contrasted with the yellow was her own choice, and not subject to marketplace demands. [9] Between 1911 and 1934, she made about five baskets a year. [8]
Hickox and her daughter, Louise, weaved and sold their baskets to Grace Nicholson, who continued to buy their work even during the Great Depression. [10] Though Hickox was Wiyot, Nicholson marketed her baskets as " Karuk" because they lived in the Karuk area. [4] Before Hickox met Nicholson, she had already chosen to create fine-art baskets. [11] After Nicholson stopped purchasing baskets in 1934, Hickox continued to weave "for pleasure, utility and gift-giving." [12]
In 2020, the art of Hickox was exhibited in the exhibition Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. [13]
Hickox died on July 19, 1947. [14]
Elizabeth Hickox's baskets can be found in numerous public collections, including the following: