You Can Use Indian Baskets For Unique Southwestern Home Decorating

Indian baskets have been part of Native American culture for many years. I love using these unique baskets to bring southwest style to my home. It is incredible when you start studying the history of Native basket making and find that basket use actually began hundreds of years ago and is one of the most ancient art forms known in Indian history. Indian baskets, weaved by Tribes like the Pueblo, Apache, Navajo and Tarahumara are famous for their beautiful, handmade designs and intricate styles. As you read about basket making, you will learn that in the majority of Native American Tribes, women are responsible for basket making and are taught as little girls from their mothers. Baskets serve many functions in the daily lives of the Native Indians and allow the people to make a living.

As you will see, Indian baskets not only look great as accessories to rustic and southwestern decorating, but they are also very functional. Originally, baskets were weaved by the Inidans as a way to protect fragile or perishable items like food, clothing, animal hides, blankets and even water. Hundreds of years ago, Native American Tribes moved often and needed ways to keep their things safe while still being able to carry them easily. Unlike clay pots, baskets were resistant and would not break. These days, Tribes still use baskets in their homes and dwellings to keep their items clean and organized. They also serve as a means of income for many Indian families, and play an important part in Indian ceremonies and rituals, such as wedding ceremonies, and in Apache rights of passage ceremonies.

There are different kinds of Indian baskets and each Tribe has different styles of basket making. Southwest style, Native baskets are some of the most well-known in the world and are regarded as a true art form. The making of these baskets is truly amazing and is very remarkable to watch. There are generally two types of woven baskets that this Tribe makes yucca or sotol as it is also known, and pine needle baskets. Yucca baskets are very well-known and come in many patterns and sizes. Pine baskets are more commonly found in the mountain region where pine trees are prevalent, but are smaller than the yucca baskets and are more fragile.

There are many kinds of weaving styles Indigenous people use to make baskets that differ between Tribes. The guari style, the most commonly used weave among the Tarahumara in the Sierra Madre region of Northern Mexico, is curned on the top, somewhat square, and has four distinguishable corners on the bottom. The petaca is another kind of weave used traditionally in the canyon regions, and is round and often double woven. Sometimes the leaves are run across a stone to dull the sharp edges before the basket maker starts to weave.

Native baskets come in various types, patterns and colors based on the Tribe and the area where it is made. Even if you don’t have the opportunity to see basket weaving first-hand and choose a beautiful basket of your own, you can still enjoy a piece of this Native American art form. It is easy to buy southwest style baskets online and in stores that sell unique, rustic and country style interior decorating accessories. Bring Indigenous traditions to life in your home with beautiful, handmade Indian baskets.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and author offering free information online about using Indian baskets for unique American Indian style. For more information visit www.missiondelrey.com

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You Can Use Indian Baskets For Unique Southwestern Home Decorating
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