Featured Tohono Oʼodham/generic basket ?

Picked this basket up this AM-is it Tohono Oʼodham or some kind of generic copy ? 2 3/4" tall and very stiff and surprisingly sturdy.
@komokwa @2manybooks @Potteryplease

 

nicely done !

 

Thanks Komo- still really tough for me to tell the generic stuff from the genuine Tohono, especially their modern tourist ware. For 99 cents it was a worthy lab rat though.

 

I would like to see a straight on view of the outside of the base start, but I would tentatively say yes, Tohono O'odham. Their starting knot at the center of the coil is usually a form of 4-way knot that can look like a small square checkerboard on one face and sort of pinwheel on the other. The materials used in their baskets are split "bear grass" (Nolina microcarpa - actually not a grass but a relative of yucca and agave) for the foundation coil, stitched with split yucca leaves (Yucca elata). One of their typical stitches is the "split stitch", and the more decorative version known as the "wheat stitch" is what is on your little basket. The direction of coiling is usually counter clockwise when viewed from the working surface (the side facing the weaver), which would have been the outside bottom of your basket.

The reason I hesitate is because I have started to see some coiled split-stitch baskets being made of date palm from Pakistan.

Here are some views of a Tohono-O'odham basket of mine for comparison.

 

Thanks for the input @2manybooks . Hopefully these shots are what you're looking for-tell me if you need tighter closeups.My apologies if I've gone overboard w/ the pics !

 

Nice photos. Part of the problem is that the technique on a miniature basket such as yours may not be the best, most diagnostic example of the tradition. But had I not seen the purported Pakistani one, I would not have doubted that yours is Tohono O'odham.

It can be difficult to compare materials based on photographs. Here is the Pakistani one using spaced, split stitching, along with its "certificate of authenticity" -

https://www.etsy.com/listing/180746...0ASogBVBrrA0GvgBACKdEz5LGX5SKAaoaAtOFEALw_wcB

However, I have not seen another Pakistani basket using this technique. Most of theirs are close stitched, with herringbone rims, and copy "southwest style" designs. They also tend to be less well finished on the inside (non-working) surface than traditional Native American baskets.

 

Looks T.O. to me too.

Small! Takes serious dexterity to pull that off.

 

Thanks for the help 2many-the Pakistani basket's lovely-and confusing ! Pott your input/opinion really helps.
One trait about my basket is how sturdy (string & stiff) it is.When grab the sides to gently flex it, it's incredibly rigid.Also, when I place my palm flat on the opening and press firmly down-it hardly gives at all, almost like a ceramic or glass vessel !
If you coated this piece in (pine ?) pitch you'd have an incredibly useful cup.

 

That seems consistent with Tohono O'odham work. Also, the fact that it is so small. The Pakistani copies tend to go for larger effect.