New Tohono O'odham basket collection offered for sale. These baskets were collected by a long time Arizona Resident who settled in Tucson in the 1930's and died at the age of 98. The Tohono O'odham also called the desert people or Papago live in Southern Arizona on the second largest reservation the United States. Tribal lands originally established in 1874 total almost 3 million acres; the reservation is about the size of Connecticut and was created in 1916. The Tohono O'odham made basketry initially for utilitarian use and then for the tourist trade. During this time the materials transitioned from Willow and Devils claw to Beargrass, Yucca, Devils claw, Mesquite Root and horsehair. The colors of Papago baskets are natural, with no dyes. Construction or warp is typically bear grass coiled counter clockwise. The wefts are Yucca and Devils Claw. Banana Yucca is the deep red color in the baskets and is prized by collectors for its scarcity. Gathering and preparing the materials is laborious and time consuming. It takes a deal of skill, knowledge and time to find, prepare and construct these basket. For further reading about this beautiful art form we recommend purchasing "The Papago Indians and their Basketry" by Terry Dewald. Signed copies by the author are available for $7.95 and make a lovely addition to your basket purchase or if you are giving the basket as a gift will explain the Tohono O'odham basketry art form with detailed information and nice photographs.