Native American Baskets

Basketry was one of the first craft forms practiced by the American Southwest Indian. Used for utilitarian purposes long before pottery, baskets were made to carry food and other items. Some were woven tightly enough to carry water and cook in. The finely woven baskets of the Akimel O’odham - formerly Pima, Tohono O’odham - formerly Papago, and the Western Apache tribes are prime examples of how weavers incorporated beauty into their daily lives.

The Hopi people also create baskets that are rich in beauty and cultural significance.  Like the pottery produced at First Mesa, the wicker baskets made at Third Mesa and the coiled baskets made at Second Mesa celebrate their makers’ connection with the land.  Even today, these baskets are made using little more than plant materials and sunlight.  The creation of one basket requires countless hours of work and a great deal of knowledge.  Their significance to the Hopi people cannot be understated.  They are used for gifts, prizes, currency and—most significantly—a wide variety of ceremonial purposes.

The Diné people also have a rich history of creating and using baskets, using techniques learned from ancestral Pueblo people. Like the Hopi, the Diné use their baskets for a wide variety of everyday purposes and ceremonial functions. The most well-known type is likely the wedding basket, which is used to serve traditional cornmeal to the couple and their guests.

We offer basketry pieces from a variety of tribes and time periods.