Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0864   CAS 0370-0864; 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. 1950s
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Galleta grass (Hilaria jamesii) stems; Yucca (Yucca angustissima) leaves; Vegetal dyes
Description Shallow round basket with flat base and flaring sides, woven in coiled technique over bundle coils; Small yucca-wrapped suspension loop is sewn into 2nd from last coil on reverse of basket; Warp material is galleta grass stems and weft material is natural and vegetal dyed split yucca leaves; Large central design of a butterfly with black and rust-colored body and pair of rust-colored wings with yellow outer edges and outlined in black, extends across entire basket; Butterfly's eyes and accents on wings are woven in overlay stitches of sun-bleached yucca; Rust-colored X-shaped motif is located on either side of butterfly; Designs are all woven on natural sun-bleached background; Final coil is woven in natural green yucca (now yellow).
Dimensions (cm) Thickness = 5.4, Max Diam = 30.2