Yucca Tarahumara Indian Basket 8" (n)

Southwestern Tarahumara Indian baskets are hand made Native baskets. Southwest baskets serve many functions in a traditional Tarahumara household. A Tarahumara basket may be used to store corn, beans or a number of other things. As the floors of most Tarahumara homes are dirt, native baskets help keep personal items organized and clean.

There are generally two types of woven baskets. The first and most common being of yucca or sotol. These are used constantly in everyday life. The second type is pine needle baskets and is most common in the higher elevations where pine trees are prevalent. These pine baskets are quite small and delicate. The yucca baskets are made in a variety of sizes and shapes.

In the mountain country, the guari type is most commonly found. These baskets are usually a single weave and are round at the top and somewhat square, with four distinct corners, at the bottom. The petaca is traditional to the canyon regions. It is round and frequently double woven. The basket maker uses only her hands and teeth to fashion the basket, although the leaves are sometimes run across a stone to dull their sharp edges before they are worked.

Measures approximately 7" wide, 8" tall