Miniature Pima Horsehair Friendship Basket

Late 20th Century

1.9375" D 

Hand Coiled with Light Tan Field and Black and Brown Figure Motif Design 

In Very Good Condition

Pima (Akimel O'odham) or closely related Tohono O'odham (formerly known as Papago) tribes in southern Arizona. Horsehair baskets are a modern innovation in their basketry tradition—using horsehair (often white/tan for the base and black/dyed for designs) coiled tightly into small, delicate forms instead of traditional plant materials like willow or devil's claw.

The "friendship" aspect typically refers to designs featuring Friendship Dancers (stylized human figures in a circle, symbolizing community, ceremonies, or social bonds) or sometimes combined with other motifs like the Man in the Maze (a labyrinth-like pattern representing life's journey). These patterns are iconic in O'odham horsehair work, often in polychrome (multi-color) or contrasting black-on-natural styles.