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 older (ca 1950s-1960s) nicely woven basket. 10.75 inches and $240. In the middle is a star basket by Delores Stevens. 6.75 inches and $120. Next is a fret pattern also by Delores. 6.5 inches and $110. Fred and Della Cruz made the two javalinas and saguaro. 6 inches wide and the saguaro is 7 inches tall. $120. (ALL IN TUCSON)
A couple of pieces by Fred and Della Cruz. A Tohono O’odham woman with a traditional giaha or carrying basket. 8.5 inches tall and 10 inches wide include carrying basket. $320. All I can say about this next scene is that the cowboy must have gone swimming… Note the spur detail on the boots. 7 inches wide and the saguaro is 7 inches tall. $120.
On the left is an older and very finely woven basket that used both the black devils claw and the red yucca root. 7.5 inches and $200. This split stitch bowl has a closed stitch flared rim. 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. Two pictures of a cowboy on his horse also woven by Fred and Della. 7 inches wide and 7 inches tall. $165. (TUCSON)
A large older basket 12.25 inches in diameter and 7 inches deep. $400 (TUCSON)
An older very intricate polychrome of the man in the maze surrounded by a friendship dance. The red is from the root of red from the root of the Spanish or Shin Dagger (Yucca arizonica, which is called oh’eetock in the T.O. language. 11.25 inches $800. (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 a fantastic turtle basket by Delores Stevens. 7 inches and $250. (TUCSON)
This wonderful, large vintage basket measures 13.5”w X 9.5”h. $300 (TUCSON)
A small nicely woven bee basket by Francis Stevens. 3.25 inches and $75. Four red centipedes surrounded by coyote tracks are on this older basket woven by Molly Jose. 7.5 inches and $180l Next is a six petal squash design from the 1950s-1960s. 9.5 inches and $150. Last is a small open stitch basket by Lilian Flores. 6.25 inches and $36. (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. Fred and Della Cruz brought in a stack of these great open stitch baskets (10 in all). They are approx. 5.25 inches wide, but do vary a bit. $20 each. 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. Next is a great older (19050s-1960s) five petal squash basket that has both devils claw and the red yucca root. 11.25 inches and $220. A nice blossom pattern basket that is 8.5 inches across and $85. A lidded saguaro basket by Doris Jose. 7 inches tall and 7 inches in diameter. $250. (ALL IN TUCSON)
A really wonderful hat made by an unidentified weaver years ago. The “hat band” is woven of the red yucca root. 13.5 inches wide and 5 inches high. $165. This swirl pattern basket is by Doris Jose. 10 inches and $300. Last is a fret pattern basket that is 12.5 inches. SOLD. (TUCSON)
