Baskets
Basketry is probably the oldest and most wide-spread craft/art developed by Native Americans. Almost every tribal group made and used baskets of one kind of another. In recent times, hand-woven Native American baskets have become increasingly rare. There are many reasons why, from simple economics to a dwindling number of Native American basket artists willing to spend the time needed to gather and prepare the materials and then carefully craft the basket. Basketry is a year-round endeavor that requires patience and skill as well as a knowledge of plants, times to harvest and vegetal dye processes. Toh-Atin is pleased to present such a fine, diverse collection of Native American baskets, from older, antique, baskets to those made more recently.
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APACHE burden baskets are made from available materials such as willow or sumac. Since the Apaches were once nomadic hunters and gatherers, the women wove these baskets to carry firewood, roots and berries. |  | |
 From their mesas in north-eastern Arizona, the HOPI create baskets of remarkable quality and variety. |  | |
NAVAJO WEDDING BASKETS are woven by both the Navajo and Paiute weavers of the Southwest, and are made entirely out of sumac and decorated with natural or aniline dyes. At a Navajo marriage, a new basket is required to serve traditional corn meal mush to the wedding couple, then it is passed around for the guests. |  | |
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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. |  | |
Hopi coil baskets are difficult to come across on the retail market. They tend to stay within the Pueblo, offered as gifts for favors received. This basket measures 9 1/2 inches by 11 inches.
The deer motif is evident on this lovely Hopi coil basket. Made of grasses it would be great in any collection. It measures 10 inches.
Hopi coil basket from Second Mesa. The woman's Basket Ceremonies are among the most important of the year and end with many baskets being exchanged. Baskets received as gifts may be kept, used as gifts for another "payback", they may be given as a gift or they may be sold. Measures 4 1/2 inches.
This is a very unique basket. The person who wove this basket is Navajo and the image on this pictorial weaving is Hopi. It is the Palhik Mana. An interesting combination. The size of this weaving is 13 inches by 13 inches.
This unusual Navajo basket is made with sumac and analyne dyes. The turquoise, yellow, red and black are made to enhance the beauty of this unique Navajo basket. The size of this piece is 13 1/2 by 13 1/2 inches.
Tohono O' odham are the Native people of Southern Arizona, they are also known as the Papago. They are the most productive basket weavers working today and have been making these utilitarian functional works of art for thousands of years, using the same techniques and materials as their Prehistoric Ancestors.
Miniature bark and grass basket measures 2 inches in diameter. There is a white star design in the central focal point of the basket. Finely woven with seven wrapped coils, leading to the center.
