Introduction to Southwest Native American Baskets
Step into any southwest trading post and amidst the displays of dancing kachinas, Navajo rugs and turquoise jewelry your eye will soon fall upon woven baskets in subtle shades of tan, cream and brown or bright, bold colors. High and low, hanging on walls and suspended from ceilings, these beautiful art forms capture the imagination. From turn of the century Apache ollas and finely coiled Navajo wedding baskets, to contemporary Tohono O'odham trays and Hopi plaques, each basket carries the enduring echo of ceremonial songs, religious rites and tribal histories.