This 12” x 8 ½” extremely rare and early basket is amazingly preserved dates from before the turn of the last century, circa 1890. It was used for the Tohono O’odham people to drink the fermented saguaro wine, which by doing so, allegorically petitioned The Creator to send down moisture from above to bring up their crops. The Tohono O’odham people in this act were “priming the pump” to show The Creator that they were consuming his wine that he furnished them with, and in turn he would likewise hopefully drench the land with his precious rain. The basket is woven as hard as heavy plastic and will not leak because it was impregnated with the fruit of the Hedgehog Cactus, which made a normal cement-like sealing when applied to waterproof the basket. The description and appraisal of value is provided by Terry DeWald, a member of the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association.

*This item needs to be picked up from the Friends office.