Yokuts Baskets: Soap Root Brush


Soap Root Brush In the Mono language this Soap Root Brush is called a “WA-NUDZ”. The primary use of this brush was in acorn preparation, as it was a main staple in their diet. Acorns were taken to a mortar rock site to pound the acorn into flour using a rock pestle. The Soap Root Brushes used to “round up” any stray acorn flour pieces. A special basket was used to sift the Acorn flour to remove the lumps for repounding.

	The Acorn flour is then ready to be leached of its bitterness. After leaching, it must be cooked. It is then placed in a tightly woven coiled basket and mixed with water. Hot soapstone rocks are placed in the basket and kept moving so as not to burn the basket. After cooking the basket must be washed. The Soap Root Brush is used again to scrub the basket clean. A special brush must be used for this, one that has its handle coated with pitch. The handle made from the pulp of the plant will melt away like a bar of soap if it is gotten wet.
Plant, Brush, Acorns and Gathering Basket
These brushes are made from the Soaproot Plant (Chlorogalum Pomeridianum) which grow in the mountain areas of Mariposa, Madera, Fresno and most California foothills. The hair-like fibers on the outside of the plant are washed, dried, and bundled, being tied with a string made from the fibers of the Milk Weed Plant. The bulb from the plant is baked in an earthen oven. Pulp is extracted from the bulb and one coat put on the handle every 24 hours for 7 days, making sure each coat is dry before adding another.

It normally takes 2 weeks to make one brush. Care was taken to harvest the bulb at the proper time of year to help the plant in its reproductive cycle, assuring a good harvest for years to come. These brushes were also used for their hair and as brooms in their houses. Each family had many brushes. Price: $100
		Harvesting the Soap Root Plant

Soap Root Brush

Price: $100