1930s Akimel O’odham Basket

1930s Akimel O’odham basket, hand-coiled from willow and dark devil’s claw. The deep bowl features a braided rim and bold, repeating geometric and stylized motifs.

The Akimel O’odham, meaning “River People” and historically referred to as Pima, come from the Gila and Salt River valleys of Arizona. Their finely coiled basketry tradition developed from locally gathered desert plants, with pale willow forming the ground and devil’s claw providing the contrasting dark designs. Baskets such as this were made for domestic use and trade and are admired for their durability, balanced forms, and strong graphic patterns.

9” Diameter, 5” Depth

Condition: Some missing stitches