Many things affect the value of a Native American basket and while many novices would identify age as primary among these, it is not always the case. Primary elements to be considered are materials, technique, shape and size, design, and tribal identification. Knowledge of the tribal identity can increase the market value of specific baskets, and while this information is sometimes unavailable, a study of the materials, designs, and style of the basket can often lead to the identity of the Indian nation.

Materials

Identification of the materials used is an important first step. Traditionally, American Indian basket weavers gather their weaving materials from their local environment. Desert weavers such as the O’odam (formerly Papago) and the Pima use materials from the riverbeds of the dry Salt and Gila Rivers, as well as from the local desert, including willow, cattails, yucca, martynia and bear grass. Older baskets were made of willow, cattails and martynia, while newer ones tend to be only of bear grass, yucca and martynia.

Left: Older Pima or O’odam basket. Willow, cattails, martynia. Black center and rim. Coiled. Right: Modern O’odam basket. Yucca, bear grass, martynia. Coiled. From the author’s collection. Photos courtesy Dr. Leona Zastrow.

River and mountain peoples also used what was available – river osier, willow, yucca, martynia and various grasses, while the baskets of California coastal tribes saw the introduction of seaweed, and ferns in addition to grasses. Identifying materials is a matter of experience; appearance, feel, touch, etc. all must be considered. A novice collector can begin by reading widely. The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History offers an extensive bibliography of basketry books, which includes useful volumes such as Indian Basket Weaving: How to Weave Pomo, Yurok, Pima, and Navajo Baskets (Newman, Sandra Corrie, Northland Press, 1974). It is also helpful to visit museums such as the Wheelwright in Santa Fe, the Heard in Phoenix and the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. which have strong collections of Native American baskets.

Technique

Another step in the identification of American Indian baskets is to determine the weaving technique or techniques used to create the basket. Is it plaited, twinned, coiled or a combination of techniques? The quality of these techniques is also important. This includes tightness of the weave and the size of the stitches; the finer the basket, the greater the market price.

Left: Apache burden basket. Osier rods, twinned willow. Right: Very old O’odam or Pima wine ceremonial basket. Tight coil weave to hold wine. From the author’s collection. Photos courtesy Dr. Leona Zastrow.

Part of the weaving technique is the construction of the basket from the center to the rim. Different weavers use different techniques to begin and finish a basket. Recognizing these techniques assists in the identification of the weaver’s tribe. Some tribes coil the center, some use braided centers, and some wrap the center stitch.

Also check the method of finishing the rim. Was it wrapped, braided, coiled, or twinned? Older O’odam and Pima baskets were braided with black martynia seedpod. Then check for the tightness and size of the weave. Notice the O’odam picture of the wine basket; this old basket was woven so tight it held wine for the O’odam cleansing ceremony. Some other examples of Indian tribes recognized for weaving very tight coiled baskets are the Chemehuevi and the Chumash weavers. Some of the Indian basket weavers wove what are referred to as loose stitches baskets. Examples include some of the O'odam weavers, who wove yucca split weave baskets for sale to tourists. The Pueblo weavers of New Mexico wove loose stitches plaited baskets for cleaning corn meal.

Knowledge about why the weaver wove the basket is very important since the purpose of a basket often determined the technique and style chosen by the weaver. Was this particular basket woven for tribal ceremonies such as the O'odam wine basket or Hopi ceremonial katsina baskets? Ceremonial and traditional woven baskets are of greater value and are a treasurer to collectors if they can find and purchase such baskets. Tourist baskets were often woven to "put bread on the table." Other baskets were produced for utilitarian purposes such as carrying water, cooking corn, sifting seeds, gathering fruit. An example of a utilitarian basket is the Apache burden basket. This basket was used by women to gather seeds and cactus fruits.

Shape and Size

Indian baskets were woven in many shapes and sizes such as plates, bowls, containers, and figurines. Often the shape was related to the purpose of the basket. Greater market value is given to baskets with lids and baskets woven as figurines.

The market value of the basket does not depend on the size. In 2006, some examples of larger Navajo and Cherokee baskets (36” high) ranged in value from $100 to over $200 while some O'odam horsehair or coiled miniature basket prices ranged from $500 to over $1,000.

Designs

Often, tribal basket weavers can be identified by the type and colors of the designs they wove into the basket. Design element such as the “Man in the Maze” indicated that the weavers could be an O'odam or Pima weaver. Hopi weavers wove Katsina figures in many of their baskets. Navaho weavers frequently used a design called the wedding design.

Left: California Washoe beaded basket. Right: O’odam or Pima Man in the Maze, coiled. From the author’s collection. Photos courtesy Dr. Leona Zastrow.

Tribal Identification

Knowledge about the origin of the weaver’s tribal identification, their geographical location, and the cultural significance of baskets can provide valuable information about their current market value and can increase or decrease the value of specific tribal baskets. Examples include the California baskets; knowledge about specific tribal groups such as the Washoe, Hupa, Makah, and Chumash people, their original locations, the materials they harvested, and the cultural values of their baskets have greatly increased their market values, ranging from $1,000 to over $100,000. Collectors and California Indian nations are searching for specific California tribal baskets, thus increasing the market value of the baskets.

Market Value

Once an appraiser has identified the basket using the above criteria, the search for current market value begins. At this time the rarity of the type of basket is considered. Many of the older baskets will never be woven again and are considered irreplaceable. Life and conditions on many American Indian reservations have changed drastically. Weavers no longer need to weave baskets as a source of income, environmental changes have depleted materials, and other economic and educational opportunities are now available to American Indian nations. Many of the older baskets are “one of a kind” and collected by museums or major collectors. Baskets prices have risen substantially.

American Indian Art, especially basketry, is a changing art form. Today, many Indian basket weavers create baskets as items of fine art and price them as fine art. An example of this is the following: Case Trading Post at the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, NM, sells contemporary Navajo baskets between $1,500 to $3,000. The basket weave is of the highest quality, small stitches, very tight. The brilliant fiber colors are dyed yucca and are not the traditional red and black colors of Navajo wedding baskets. Also, the name of the weaver as well as his or her picture is posted by the basket.

In summary, before buying American Indian basketry, do what an appraiser would do; study the materials, the techniques, the style and the tribal identify of the weavers. Collect Indian baskets as a part of the cultural history of many American Indian nations and treasure them as having infinite value.