Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0913   CAS 0370-0913; 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. 1920-1940
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Sumac (Rhus sp.) stems; Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp.) stems; Yucca (Yucca angustissima) leaves; Vegetal and aniline dyes
Description Round nearly flat plaque with domed center, woven entirely in wicker technique over multiple warps; Warp material is probably sumac stems and weft material is natural, vegetal, and aniline dyed rabbitbrush stems; At the rim, one warp stem from each group of warps is bent over and incorporated into a bundle that is coil-wrapped in undyed yucca leaves; Geometric design consists of a pale orange central area with two parallel red bars on front face only, encircled by a narrow band of alternating orange and yellow blocks edged in black; Wider band with orange, yellow, and blue-gray blocks edged in black, all on natural colored background, covers most of the remaining space; Narrow band of alternating yellow and orange blocks, edged in black, encircles rim of plaque.
Dimensions (cm) Thickness = 2.0, Max Diam = 29.6