Tohono O'odham baskets

At Grey Dog Trading Company, we feature Tohono O'odham (Tah-hah-nah Ah-ah-dahm) basketry in our gallery. These native peoples of southern Arizona are some of the finest contemporary basket weavers in America. While basketry is a disappearing art form for most Native American tribes, Tohono O'odham weavers persist in creating lovely pieces despite the labor intensive process, not to mention the strenuous tasks of gathering and preparing all of the natural materials.

Weavers specialize in two types of basketry. One is yucca (sun-bleached white or green), devil's claw (black), or yucca root (red) stitches over a beargrass foundation. The other is horsehair weaving, using natural colors to make the designs. Many Tohono O'odham are especially proficient at miniature work, and both basketry styles are created in tiny form, often with intricate symbols such as the man in the maze, squash blossoms, snake patterns and others.

Tohono O'odham baskets are frequent winners at noted, juried Native American art shows throughout the southwest. An appreciation for these amazing pieces of art is certainly growing, despite the fact that fewer weavers are taking up the art. Sadly, a Tohono O'odham can likely earn more money working in a nearby town than they can weaving baskets. Visiting our gallery in Tucson or online may provide a glimpse of why this art form is special and enduring.

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