Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0910   CAS 0370-0910; 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. 1940s to 1950s
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Sumac (Rhus sp.) stems; Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp.) stems; Yucca (Yucca angustissima) leaves; Vegetal dyes
Description Round plaque woven entirely in wickerwork technique; Most warp rods are trimmed at rim, but one from each warp bundle is folded over at rim and incorporated into bundle that is coil-wrapped in dyed black yucca leaves; Warp material is probably sumac stems and weft material is natural and vegetal dyed rabbitbrush stems; Design includes single full-figure of Hahai-i Wuhti (Pour Water Woman) shown in standing position and wearing a black woven dress and white manta; Her face is painted white with a large dot on each cheek and a short vertical lines across her forehead to represent falling rain; Her hair is arranged in maiden's whorls, and she wears a multi-tiered headdress or tableta (black and blue-gray), all on gold-colored background; Narrow band of alternating white and black blocks on black background (white cloud motif) encircles rim.
Dimensions (cm) Thickness = 2.3, Max Diam = 37.0