Papago Oval Lidded Basket filled with 33 Miniature Pima Baskets - Sold as a Set

Late 20th Century

Large Oval 2.5" H x 4.375" L x 3.3125" W Largest Mini .375" H x 1.125" D Smallest Mini .25" H x .375" D

Hand Coiled Baskets Papago Oval has a Matching Lid and all the Pima Miniature Baskets are in many Different Colors with Thin String for Weaving

In Very Good Condition

Papago (Tohono O'odham) baskets are typically coiled using materials like yucca, beargrass, and devil's claw for dark patterns, often featuring geometric designs, and lidded forms are common for storage or decorative purposes. Oval shapes with lids are seen in antique and vintage examples, sometimes larger ones serving as containers.

Pima (Akimel O'odham) baskets are renowned for their fine, tight coiling (often with willow and devil's claw), intricate motifs like the "man in the maze," and miniature versions that showcase exceptional skill—tiny bowls, jars, trays, or lidded pieces under an inch or two in size.

A larger oval lidded Papago basket used as a container for 33 miniature Pima baskets are a remarkable assembled collection, a grouping highlighting the artistry of these neighboring tribes. Such sets are prized in Native American art collections for their craftsmanship, cultural significance, and rarity—miniature baskets demonstrate the weaver's precision, and filling one Vessel with 33 Miniature Baskets is a Heirloom Set.