Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0915   CAS 0370-0915; 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 Round very shallow plaque with slightly rounded base and widely flaring sides, woven entirely in coiled technique over bundle coils; Warp material is galleta grass stems and weft material is natural and vegetal dyed yucca leaves; Small coil-wrapped loop for hanging plaque on wall is woven into final rim coil on reverse; Design consists of large image of yellow eagle in center of basket with its wings and feet spread; Eagle is outlined in black and the edges of its wings, tail, and head are woven in an overlay stitch; Band of contiguous terraced triangles (4 each in rust red, golden yellow, and natural sun bleached color, all edged in black) encircles eagle; The overall background color is natural sun bleached color; The weaving on this basket is extremely precise and the design is perfectly balanced.
Dimensions (cm) Thickness = 4.0, Max Diam = 33.4