Native American Baskets
Zuni, Hopi, Navajo, Apache
Native American baskets were one of the earliest forms of art created by American Indians. Native American basket makers use such materials as Yucca, Sumac, Spruce, Devils’ Claw and other plant materials to construct their finely made baskets. These American Indian baskets were used for carrying items, holding water, storage and on occasion, even cooking. Although used for the same purposes by today’s Native Americans, many of the Native American baskets are also cherished as works of art.
Although Native American basket making preceded Native American pottery making, it is slowly becoming a lost art. Of all of the Native American artists, there are probably fewer learning and practicing this art than any other major form. Some Native American baskets may take as long as a year to make, and the natural resources to make the baskets are less abundant. The other major factor in the decline of Native American basket weaving is the fact that so many original Native American designs are being “knocked off” or copied in such areas as South America and Africa. These knock-offs, or imitations, are imported and sometimes sold as Native American baskets.
In most cases the Native American basket weaver will gather their own natural materials and if dying is necessary, they will manufacturer their own vegetable dyes. As with the Native American rug and blanket weavers, this is a very arduous and time consuming part of the process. As with many works of art, this is also what adds to the value and beauty of each individual Native American basket.
Some of the baskets today are:
The Hopi Basket
The Hopi Nation consists of approximately 650,000 acres of land surrounded on all sides by the Navajo reservation. It is focused on three Mesas appropriately named First, Second and Third Mesa. Located on Third Mesa is Old Oraibi, which has the distinction of being the oldest, continuously inhabited village in North America. The Hopi Basket makers are known for their coiled and wicker baskets (plaques). Although there are a small number of Hopi basket makers today, their baskets are made more for personal use and ceremonial use than for selling. The Hopi basket makers prefer to use the colors of red, yellow and black to form traditional designs such as Kachinas, deer, eagle, corn and other animals. These Hopi basket makers also use various geometric designs. Hopi basket making techniques include plaiting, wicker and coiling. Each technique is usually associated with a different plant. Wicker uses Rabbit Brush, plaited uses Dune Brush and Coiling is predominantly Yucca and Sivaapi.The Navajo Basket
The Navajo is the largest reservation in the United States with 16 million acres and a population of approximately 140,000 Navajo, or Dine’ as they refer to themselves. The Navajo Indians live in homes called hogans, which are made from wooden poles, tree bark, and mud. The door always opens to the east so they can welcome the sun. Many of the baskets made by the traditional Navajo basket maker use the colors of black, red and white. One of the most sought after forms of baskets from the Navajo basket makers is the Navajo Wedding Basket, which is identified by an uncolored or natural path from the outside to the center. The Navajo Wedding Basket is very popular partly because it is still used in various ceremonies.Papago /Tohono O'odham Baskets
- It is generally accepted that the most prolific Native American basket maker today are the Papago or Tohono O'odham people of Southern Arizona. They use a coil design and a split stitch style. As with most other Native American basket makers, they prefer to use indigenous plants such as Yucca, Bear Grass, and Devil's Claw. Since they live in the desert, some of their more common designs are lizards, water, tortoises, horses and numerous geometric designs.As with all Native American Indian art, which particular Native American Indian basket a person wishes to purchase should be driven by their particular interest in the basket itself, the symbols of interest, the style and overall appearance. In many cases whether the basket was done by a Navajo basket maker, a Hopi basket maker, a Papago /Tohono O'odham basket maker or other talented Native American Indian basket makers of other tribes, will be of particular importance. The most important part is that the buyer enjoy the piece they have purchased.
Futures for Children American Indian Store attempts to purchase only authentic Native American Indian made merchandise including authentic Native American Indian baskets whether they are from Navajo basket makers, Hopi basket makers, Papago /Tohono O'odham basket makers or any of the other American Indian tribes. It is our desire to promote not only the education of American Indian Children, but to promote the economy and well being of the American Indian communities of which the Native American Indian artists are a primary contributor.
