Designs in Seri Basketry: an Essay on Techniques of Social Relationships

Abstract

With reference to the organization of knowledge and practice of some Seri weavers from El Desemboque, Sonora, this article addresses the meanings of the designs on their basketry. It identifies these as: 1) indicators of relations established during the basketry production and transmission of knowledge (individual variation, building of family consensus and “tradition”) and, ) techniques of social bonding that help to produce, reproduce and intensify Seri so-ciety. The problem of individual variability in the manufacture and denomination of designs will also be explored, which means shifting the analysis from the general signification of the designs towards the meanings endowed on them by their creators within the context of their use and practice.