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Basket weaving is an art form of functional beauty for many cultures. A single basket might find use in a variety of ways from gathering and cooking to religious ceremony and gifting. This month’s Collection Spotlight is a basket, representative of the skilled work of members of the Akimel O’odham (meaning People of the River) or as the Spanish first called them, the Pima of Arizona. The basket features a coiled design, starting off at the center then rippling out in successive threading. The threads or material used here would be plant fiber from area grasses and the herb Devil’s Claw. These intricate designs captivated collectors, leading to a large tourist trade in the 1900’s. Represented today near Pheonix, Arizona, the Pima are descendants of the southwest’s masters of irrigation. Along with others in the collection, this basket is an item purchased in the early 20^th century when many Pima turned to trade to make a living.  As an object in our care, it is repurposed from its original function to be a connector of river culture.