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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Taupou, post: 271646, member: 45&quot;]Unfortunately, this is one of those baskets that superficially resemble Papago baskets, based on the natural colors and the fact that it is of bundle coiled construction...but it is actually African.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is a coiled palm fiber basket from the Okavanga Delta of Botswana.&nbsp; The design is a variation of the traditional Botswana pattern called &quot;Flight of the Swallows.&quot;&nbsp; Many older Botswana baskets are based on traditional patterns with imaginative names related to local wildlife, such as &quot;Tears of the Giraffe,&quot; &quot;Knees of the Tortoise,&quot; &quot;Back of the Python,&quot; and even &quot;Urine Trail of the Bull.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>The main way to distinguish Botswana baskets from Native American is by the material they are made from.&nbsp; Palm fiber, although it is similar in color to yucca, has a slightly different texture, and there is usually more variation in the color tones.&nbsp; Papago baskets will have a more consistent background color (the light tan/cream part of the design), and will have a more matte surface.</p><p><br /></p><p>The design patterns will also be different, as will the form itself.&nbsp; Whenever you see this shape, with the small, slightly indented base, and wide flaring sides...it will be African, rather than Papago, even if there are other similarities.&nbsp; The Papago do not make this shape of basket.&nbsp; It&#039;s the total combination of material, weaving technique, colors, design patterns, and form that narrow this down to Botswana.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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