Choosing Indian Baskets To Create Beautiful Southwest Interior Design

Indian baskets have been part of Native American culture for many years. I like using these hand-made baskets to bring Native style to my home. It is intriguing when you begin reading the history of Native basket weaving and find that the use of baskets actually began centuries ago and is one of the most ancient art forms known in Indian history. Indian baskets, made by Tribes such as the Pueblo, Apache, Navajo and Tarahumara are well-known for their beautiful, handmade designs and elaborate styles. As you read about basket making, you will see that in the majority of Native American Tribes, women are the ones in charge of basket weaving and learn as a young girl from their mothers. Baskets serve many functions in the daily lives of the Native Indians and help the people financially.

As you will find, Indian baskets not only look great as rustic decorating accessories, but they are also very useful. In the beginning, baskets were weaved out of necessity by Native people as a way to hold valuable things such as food, clothing, animal hides, blankets and even water. Hundreds of years ago, Native American Tribes moved frequently and had to design ways to protect their things while still being able to move them quickly. Unlike pottery, baskets were strong and would not break. These days, Tribes still use baskets in their houses and dwellings to protect their belongings and keep them organized. They also serve as a way for many Indian families to make a living, and play an important role in Native ceremonies and tribal rituals, such as wedding ceremonies, and in Apache rights of passage ceremonies.

There are different kinds of Native American baskets and each Tribe has different designs. Southwestern, Tarahumara Indian baskets are some of the most beautiful in the world and are considered a true form of art. The way these baskets are made is truly extraordinary and is very exciting to watch. There are generally two types of woven baskets that this Tribe makes yucca or sotol as it is also called, and pine needle baskets. Baskets made of Yucca are very popular and are woven in different shapes and sizes. Pine baskets are more popular in higher elevations where pine trees grow, but are smaller than the yucca baskets and not as durable.

There are different kinds of weaving designs Native Tribes use to make baskets that vary between Tribes. The guari type, the most popular weave among the Tarahumara in the Sierra Madre region of Northern Mexico, is curned on the top, somewhat square, and consists of four well-defined corners on the bottom. The petaca is another kind of weave used commonly 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 Indian baskets come in many different types, designs and colors based on the Tribe and the place where it is made. Even if you dont have the opportunity to go to the tribal location and select a beautiful basket of your own, you can still have a piece of this Native American form of art. It is easy to buy southwest style baskets online and in stores that sell beautiful, rustic and country style interior decorating accessories. Bring Native American customs and traditions to life in your home by decorating with authentic, handmade Indian baskets.