Authentic Tohono O'odham baskets by Erma Juan are featured at Bair's.

Home Return to Indian Baskets Order Info Contact Us

Authentic Tohono O'odham baskets are handmade from the fibers of yucca plants, devil's claw, banana yucca root, and beargrass. The Tohono O'odham people are well known for intricate geometric and pictorial designs in these larger yucca baskets and in their miniature baskets made of horsehair.

Basketmaker: Erma Juan

Closed Coiled Zoomorphic Basket.

Zoomorphic Tohono O'odham yucca basket.

Material: Sun bleached, split yucca fiber and devil's claw over a beargrass core.
Style: Closed coiled, dish shaped, zoomorphic basket. Note the
overstitching technique to produce eyes and body pattern.
Size: 3.75" in diameter.
Handwoven by: Erma Juan (Tohono O'odham Nation).

This close-up shows detail of the basket as well as of the figure which is made of fiber from devil's claw. The eyes are done using a technique called overstitching.

Closeup of zoomorphic Tohono O'odham yucca basket.

Order with confidence as your Satisfaction is Guaranteed.

Item Number: 66-EJ-723
Price: $54.00
S/H via First Class Mail: $6.90, includes insurance & delivery confirmation..

To order this item, use our secure Shopping Cart or contact us.
PLEASE NOTE: Orders of multiple items may result in a reduction of the total
amount charged for shipping/handling/insurance that is listed per item.
Any such reduction will occur before charging your credit card.

Free Shipping/Handling/Insurance for basket orders over $250.00

In the handmaking of Tohono O'odham baskets, materials are harvested, the yucca fibers are laid out to be bleached by the sun and are then split for weaving. The baskets are carefully woven around a core of beargrass first starting at a central core at the base using simple tools. Lengths of beargrass are continually spliced in to provide the foundation for building the basket. Devil's claw (black), and banana yucca root (red), are split to create decorative geometric or pictorial patterns and to add finished detail to the top or outside edge of some baskets. When first made, the appearance of the yucca is generally white due to its being sun-bleached. With age, the color will slowly darken by degrees, a process that does not detract from the item in any way.

See books for sale about American Indian Baskets.

Go to Top

Site design and development by Bair's Indian Trading Co.
E-mail your comments or suggestions.