Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0889   CAS 0370-0889; Basket plaque
Category Basketry
Object Name Basket plaque
Culture Hopi
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Arizona
County Navajo
Other Geographic Data Hopi Indian Reservation; Third Mesa
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1930-1950
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Sumac (Rhus sp.) or common dunebroom (Parryella filifolia) stems; Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus sp.) stems; Yucca (Yucca angustissima) leaves; Vegetal dyes
Description Round and nearly flat plaque, woven entirely in wicker technique over multiple warps; Warp material is either sumac or common dune broom stems and weft material is natural and vegetal dyed rabbitbrush stems; At the rim, one warp stem in each group of warps is bent over and incorporated into a bundle that is coil-wrapped with dyed black yucca leaves; Design consists of a single full-length figure of a Kachin' mana, shown wearing a black woven dress, woven red and green belt, and red and white maiden's shawl; Figure's hair is worn in traditional style of whorls worn by unmarried Hopi girls, and her face is white; Large black and yellow triangular motif above the figure and black and natural-colored check units on either side might depict a tableta or headdress; Narrow band of alternating black and natural-colored bars encircles rim.
Dimensions (cm) Thickness = 4.0, Max Diam = 39.5