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).
On the left is an open stitch basket by Doris Jose. 8 inches and SOLD. In the middle is a star basket by Delores Stevens. 6.75 inches and $120. Last is a fret pattern also by Delores. This one is made with the red yucca root for the design. 5.5 inches and $75. (ALL IN TUCSON)
The oval basket with a whirling fret design and coyote tracks around the rim is 10.25 by 9 by 2.5 inches. $275. This split stitch bowl has a closed stitch flared rim. An older basket woven into a chalice shape. 6 inches tall and $50. Master weaver Delores Stevens brought in this wonderful hummingbird basket. 8 inches and $300. (ALL IN TUCSON)
Left to right: An older polychrome man in the maze surrounded by a friendship dance. 11.25 inches $675. A small saguaro harvest basket features 3 saguaros and 3 people (one harvesting fruit). 5.75” wide and 3 inches tall. $165. A really nice older polychrome snake basket with coyote tracks surrounding the snake. 9.5 inches and SOLD. (ALL IN TUCSON)
A large older basket 12.25 inches in diameter and 7 inches deep. $400 (TUCSON)
Also vintage: 8 by 8 inches (though it appears taller than it is wide) $425. In very good condition. (Tucson)
At left is a fantastic basket by master weaver Marian Cruz. It features 15 lizards and 5 spiders. 13.5 inches and $875. (TUCSON)
At right is an older open stitch basket. 12 inches and $120. (TUCSON)
This wonderful, large vintage basket measures 13.5”w X 9.5”h. $300 (TUCSON)
A nice open stitch basket handled basket with a turtle in the center made by Della and Fred Cruz. 8.25 inches from handle to handle. $110. Four coyote tracks are on this older, large coil basket. 9.5 inches and $65. Next is an open stitch olla by Della Cruz that used both green and white yucca for the design. 6.5 inches wide by 5.5 inches tall and SOLD. Last is a flat basket that uses all the colors in both a closed and an open stitched design. Woven by Ilayna Lopez it measures 6.5 in hes and is $90. (All in Tucson).
A finely woven maze basket by Doris José. 6 5/8 by .75 inches. $300. By the husband and wife team of Fred and Della Cruz, the bighorn sheep and cactus is 7 inches wide and 7 inches tall. $158. A small handled basket by Ilayna Marks. 4 inches to top of handle. $65. A winsom pup-dog by Fred and Della, 2.5 inches tall. $45. (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. Two great lidded baskets by Della and Fred Cruz. The turtle is 4 inches tall and 8 inches long. $140. The saguaro and deer is 4.5 inches tall and 9 inches long. SOLD. A nice blossom pattern basket that is 8.5 inches across and $85. A fret pattern by Laura Pablo, 8.5 inches across and $115. (ALL IN TUCSON)
The bee basket was woven decades ago by Anita Manuel. 9.75 inches and $350. This design is known as dragging coyote tracks. It has the red yucca root in the center of each track. It measures 9” and is SOLD. Last is a fret pattern basket that is 12.5”. $275. (TUCSON)
