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Papago 1800's grass likely willow & devils claw woven pictorial saguaro basket
Papago 1800's grass likely willow & devils claw woven pictorial saguaro basket
Papago 1800's grass likely willow & devils claw woven pictorial saguaro basket
Papago 1800's grass likely willow & devils claw woven pictorial saguaro basket
Papago 1800's grass likely willow & devils claw woven pictorial saguaro basket
Papago 1800's grass likely willow & devils claw woven pictorial saguaro basket

Papago 1800's grass likely willow & devils claw woven pictorial saguaro basket

$ 419.76

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Tribal Affiliation: Tohono O’odham - Papago
  • Item must be returned within: 30 Days
  • Condition: used obviously, displayed wonderful patina from our personal collection. Unusual pictorial depicting giant Saguaro and may have been used for holding fruits as it does show a slight stain of what looks to be red in one bottom corner. Also shows use on bottom, slight damage ( to be expected for age and use) but not worn, has a dusting of something stuck inside the bottom coils, this has been there for years. I have never touched it, never cleaned it and would recommend that you do not. Awesome basket made likely before major tourist trade probably made from bear grass, willow and devils claw. Worn smooth to touch from use, extremely tightly woven.
  • Refund will be given as: Money Back
  • All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
  • Country of Manufacture: United States
  • Artisan: Unknown
  • Origin: southwestern US
  • Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
  • Restocking Fee: No
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • Provenance: Ownership History Not Available

    Description

    Tohono O’odham Papago hand woven antique basket with unusual design of Saguaro giant cactus.
    9 inch circumference - 4 inches high
    a beautiful example of Tohono O’odham (Papago) basket weaving
    from the late 19th century (unknown exact age) purchased in Arizona by myself years ago
    From the details shown you can see the unusual pattern of pictorial giant Saguaro cacti - believed to be uncommon
    basket shows a reddish color stain in the inside bottom on one side, faded now from age
    basket shows slight wear from use on the bottom with a tiny section of missing plant matter - willow or bear grass ( see pictures)
    Papago ( the old name) were close relatives to the Pima and inhabit the central Sonoran Desert of Arizona
    this is an older Papago basket made likely with a foundation of bear grass or yucca with willow as the walls of the basket
    Papago often traded with the Pima to the north for willow material and weavers used devil’s claw to form the dark design elements on baskets, (in this case trim and cacti) gathered in the desert or cultivated in warmer months.
    it does remain difficult to distinguish between older Pima and Papago baskets because of the proximity of the tribes, intermarriage, and trading of materials.
    plants used by the Pima and the Papago were often different but the manufacture of the basket “start” was always similar
    Both employed a four-square or plaited knot. This basket shows a wonderful start knot
    plant bundles were wrapped around this start and stitched together with various fibers
    Weavers of both tribes wove firm, watertight baskets
    the walls of baskets were pounded with stones or hammers to flatten and smooth the surface
    in mid-1880s railroads were built tourists began traveling to the Southwest & a cash market for Papago-Tohono O’odham baskets developed.
    In the early 1900s Papago weavers replaced willow with yucca, more readily available and easier to work with and other designs, forms, and open-stitch techniques were developed for the tourist trade
    nontraditional shapes included wall plaques, lidded baskets, wastepaper baskets, and baskets with figurative designs.
    The Tohono O’odham continue to produce more baskets than most Native American tribes.