Large Pima Tiswin Basket Bowl

Mid/Late 1900 Century

8" H x 19.75" D

Hand Coiled Large Pima Basket and are Traditionally used for Cactus Wine

In Good Condition with Native Repair on the Inside and Rim Wear

Large Pima (Akimel O’odham) Tiswin (or similar wine) baskets are traditional coiled basketry bowls used historically by the Pima and closely related Tohono O’odham (Papago) peoples for holding fermented saguaro cactus wine (tiswin/nawait). These deep, open bowls were part of important rain-calling ceremonies. The saguaro fruit (bahidaj) was harvested in summer, processed into syrup, mixed with water, and fermented (often in ollas or these baskets). The wine was drunk communally during rituals to invoke monsoon rains for crops. The baskets were tightly woven (sometimes sealed with cactus materials) to hold liquids without leaking.