Large, close coiled basket, in plaque form, decorated. At the center is a small solid circle surrounded by a repeated wedge shaped motif containing a negative cruciform element. Four wedge shaped motifs touch the circle. Two quadrupeds and two broad shouldered anthropomorphs are positioned near the rim. Pendant from the rim is an alternating series of hatch marks and checkerboard elements. Charring on one side makes decoration difficult to see. Remaining stitches made of very pale brown plant fibers; coils composed of three rod bundles. Exterior coil is self stitched; two areas of weft loss near the coil’s end point. The Hopi manufacture wicker, coiled and plaited basketry. Second Mesa weavers are known for specializing in coiled plaques and baskets (Allen et al. 1982:8). Around the 1930s plaque decorations began to change from simple geometrics to more complex patterns including kachinas as well as “other life forms” such as birds, deer, butterflies and flora patterns. Deer are one of the most commonly occurring of the “other life forms” (Tanner 1983:54-5). This plaque’s materials have not been identified, however the Hopi use yucca or mohu (Yucca angustissima Englem.) and galleta grass (Hilaria jamesii) in their coiled basketry (Wright 1979:66).
Basketry from the Pueblo Grande Museum