Fine Pima Whirling Motif Basketry Bowl

ca. 1920

3.25" H x 11.375" D with Loop 

Woven of Willow and Devils Claw a finally coiled bowl Uncommonly deep and with a nice hanging lug on rim

In Very Good Condition 

The Fine Pima Whirling Motif Basketry Bowl is a type of traditional coiled basket made by the Pima (Akimel O'odham) people of the Southwestern United States, particularly in Arizona. These are highly regarded examples of Native American basketry, known for their tight, precise weaving and geometric designs.

Pima baskets are typically coiled using willow (for the light foundation and stitches) and devil's claw (Martynia, for the dark patterns), sometimes with bear grass. The "whirling motif" (also called whirling logs, whirlwind, or swastika-like in pre-20th-century contexts) features radiating, hooked, or stepped geometric elements that appear to spin or whirl outward from the center. This ancient design symbolizes movement, life cycles, or natural forces in Indigenous Southwestern traditions.