Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0914   CAS 0370-0914; 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 and vegetal 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 dyed black yucca leaves; Design consists of a single complete figure of a butterfly with outstretched wings, whose body is a blue-gray color and whose wings are green, orange, blue-gray, black, and natural color, all on natural colored background; Narrow band of alternating green and orange blocks, edged in black, encircles rim of plaque.
Dimensions (cm) Thickness = 3.9, Max Diam = 34.1