Pima/Papago Baskets
PIMA (AKIMEL O'DHAM) and PAPAGO (TOHONO O'ODHAM) are desert people who produced magnificent baskets with special characteristics. Until recently, their narrowly-coiled baskets were made of cattail or bear grass and were closely stitched with willow splints. The Pima no longer weave many baskets, but the Papago, or Tohono O'odham, have been developing baskets for the market made from yucca splints, and the workmanship is of such high quality that they have become very highly regarded. |  | |
Papago small tray basket with handles is 10 inches by 7 3/4 inches and 1 1/2 inch deep. Featuring a " Key Design" made from Bear Grass, Yucca and Devil's Claw.
Papago oval tray is finely woven and in excellent condition. This basket has some age on it and a little patina. Measuring 7 3/4 inches by 5 1/2 inches and is 1 inch deep.
Featured is an old lid from a Papago basket. This is a fine example of quality weaving and is all that is left of what was more then likely a beautiful work of art. The condition is very good and the patina is a lovely Cocco brown and tan.
A new basket made by Joquan Lopez uses the plants of Yucca, Bear Grass and Devil's Claw. Bear grass is the foundation, and Yucca is woven over that and Devil's Claw provides the black that is used in the designs.
Flat Papago tray woven with Yucca, Bear Grass and Devil's Claw. The Bear Grass serves as the bones of the coil. The Yucca is split and is the main stitching, the black is the Devils Claw plant and usually makes up the designs in the baskets.
Subtle shades of natural and ocher yellow create the "Whirling Log" design in the basket. Measuring 15 inches wide by 6 inches deep. This basket is in good condition.
Featured is a basket from the 1930's, woven by the desert people known as the Tohono O'odam or Papago. They live in the SW of Arizona and N Mexico. The basket featured is woven of willow and Devil's Claw. There are some issues with the rim of the basket.
A wonderful old Pima storage basket, completed sometime in the 1930s. The basketmaker wove turquoise beads into the top finished reeds.
