Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0824   CAS 0370-0824; Basket
Category Basketry
Object Name Basket
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. 1950s
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Galleta grass (Hilaria jamesii) stems; Yucca (Yucca angustissima) leaves; Aniline dyes
Description Shallow round basket with flat base and flaring sides, woven in coiled technique over bundle coils; Small yucca-wrapped suspension loop is woven into the 3rd from the last coil on the reverse; Warp material is galleta grass stems and weft material is natural and aniline dyed split yucca leaves; Design is that of a Navajo wedding basket and consists of a negative 9 point star in center, encircled by a solid red band, all on a black background, with a band of pendant terraced black triangles around the top; one arm of the central star extends through the various design bands all the way to the rim, representing the "spirit line"; NOTE: location of the suspension loop would result in displaying this design upside down by Navajo traditions.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 7.5, Max Diam = 27.7