One of America’s most enduring craft traditions, basketry is literally woven into the historical fabric of our country’s Native American past. Across the Southwest, artisans from several Native American groups transform grasses, roots, bark, and even horsehair into objects of great beauty and cultural significance. These stunning pieces bring warmth and texture to the Southwestern home and strike a uniquely regional accent in interior design. Across New Mexico, Arizona, and neighboring states, galleries, shops, and markets burst with thousands of “Native American baskets.” Before purchasing one, learn how to know if you’re getting an authentic basket made by Native American artisans and find out what you should look for and how much you should pay.

Basket weaving, one of the region’s most significant craft traditions, is common to all Native American groups of the Southwest. The craft is also one of the oldest; archaeologists have discovered baskets dating to as far back as 6,000 BC, whose techniques are remarkably similar to those still used today. From gathering wild berries and cultivated crops to storing food and carrying infants, baskets served innumerable utilitarian purposes. Special baskets were also reserved for ceremonial use and played a prominent role in family and community traditions. In traditional Hopi life, a bride and her mother would present a nearly flat coiled basket to the groom’s mother, piled high with blue corn piki bread. The basket itself represented the best of the tribe’s craftsmanship and was treasured as a special item throughout the couple’s life together.

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