Tohono O'odham baskets

 A Tohono O’odham hoh or basket is made from a coil of bear grass (Nolina microcarpa, called moho in their language) sewn with bleached white yucca (Yucca elata - tokway).  Other materials used include green or yellow-green unbleached yucca, black from the seed pod of the devilsclaw plant (Proboscidea parviflora - eehuk) and on occasion, red from the root of the Spanish or Shin Dagger (Yucca arizonica, oh’eetock). 
 

ALL IN TUCSON UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Two great baskets by Fred and Della Cruz, On the left is a lidded basket with an overlayed bee. 6 inches wide and 3.5 inches tall. $135. On the right is a basket with a deer standing in front of a saguaro. 7 by 9 inches and $120.

On the left is an fret pattern basket by Francis Stevens. 7 inches and $150. The second basket is also by Francis. 7.25 inches and $150. Next is a fret pattern also by her sister Delores Stevens. 6.5 inches and $110. Last is an older handled basket that is 7.25 inches in diameter and 6 inches high. $52. (ALL IN TUCSON)

The unusual cradleboard and baby is 3.3.75 inches long. $68 The red yucca root whirlwind basket is 2.75 inches across and $120. The exceptionally small split stitch vase is $30 while the somewhat larger 1.75 inches across) lidded basket is $40

On the left is an open stitch basket by Doris Jose with coyote tracks on the edges. 7.5 inches and $95. This split stitch basket is also by Doris Jose. 8.5 inches and $120. An older flat hanging plaque. 6.75 inches (without handle) and $55. Master weaver Delores Stevens brought in this wonderful hummingbird basket. 8 inches and $300. (ALL IN TUCSON)

A very nice older (ca 1940) basket with a laced rim that you would sometimes see as early as the 1920s. 9.5 inches in diameter and 5 inches high. $350. The duck with a hat (removable) was made by Fred and Della Cruz. 8 inches long and 6 inches tall. $75. An eagle basket made by Doris Jose. It is closed stitch in the center and open stitch on outer portion. 10 inches and $180. This last basket is by Francis Stevens and is a pattern known as “dragging coyote tracks”. 8 inches and $150.(TUCSON)

A small nicely woven bee basket by Francis Stevens. 3.25 inches and $75. This Man in the Maze basket was woven by Doris Jose using the green yucca for the maze. 6.75 inches and SOLD. Last is an open stitch basket by Barbara Juan. 6 inches and $40. (All in Tucson).

A finely woven maze basket by Doris José. 6 5/8 by .75 inches. $300. This unusual basket was woven by Francis Stevens. 7.75 inches and $150. This finely woven small bird basket was woven over 50 years ago. 5.5 inches and $110. By Francis Stevens, a shallow basket depicting flying birds. 7.5 inches and $125. (ALL IN TUCSON)

The maze pattern design is generally believed to represent the path that I’itoi - Elder Brother - took to his home near the base of Baboquivari Peak in order to evade anyone who might follow him.  Relatives of the Tohono O’odham, the Pima or Akimel O’odham (River People), are recorded as having said that it was the floor plan of a home built by Se-eh-ha to confound his enemies.  More recently the story has evolved into the maze as symbolizing the path of life.  There is some disagreement as to whether the figure is entering or leaving the maze.  The version that has the figure entering, holds that the small ‘nook’ near the center is where one sits and reflects upon one’s life before completing the journey.  Regardless of the version, the design lends itself nicely to the path-of-life interpretation as while it has no shortcuts, there are no dead-ends either, and the entire path must be followed in order to complete the journey.

A Turtle basket by Avery Pablo. 8 inches and $150. Next is another turtle basket, this one by Fred and Della Cruz. 8.75 inches long and $90.A lidded saguaro basket by Doris Jose. 7 inches tall and 7 inches in diameter. $250. A wonderful (and very unusual) openwork split stitch vase, 11.5”h X 12”w and $525. (ALL IN TUCSON)