Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0760   CAS 0370-0760; 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; Second Mesa
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1940-1960
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Galleta grass (Hilaria jamesii) stems; Yucca (Yucca angustissima) leaves; Vegetal dyes
Description Miniature round shallow basket or wall plaque with rounded base and flaring sides, woven entirely in coiled technique over very small bundle coils; Warp material is galleta grass stems and weft material is natural and vegetal dyed yucca leaves that have been split very finely; Geometric or floral design consists of round natural colored center bordered in black and surrounded by 6 terraced triangular floral petals (3 rust red and 3 yellow, all edged in black), which in turn are surrounded by 6 larger natural colored terraced triangular petals, also edged in white; Remaining 6 triangular areas along rim are alternately rust red or yellow, and final rim coil is black; Small coil-wrapped loop for hanging basket or plaque on wall is woven into rim coil on reverse.
Dimensions (cm) Thickness = 1.6, Max Diam = 10.7