Hopi Coil Basket

Very fine Hopi Coil Basket with 6 animals and "Pookang Kwivi" Heads. The legendary Warrior Twins.)  The external detailing on the faces and animal heads is "imbrication" - that is overlay which is only on the outside, not being woven into the basket. (Clark Field's lifetime basket collection of 1000's of superb baskets contains only 8 imbricated baskets, one from Colorado and 7 from a variety of tribes in Washington State.) 

Hopi Indian Basket weavers gathered plant materials, using the natural background to contrast with their vivid designs typically in red, yellow, and black. Their baskets are made from rabbit brush, dune brush, sumac and yucca. They use three basic techniques: plating (cradle boards and Piki trays), wicker (Third Mesa) and coiling (Second Mesa).  Hopi Native American Baskets are symbolic of Hopi Life past and present, religion, dances, rainmaking, corn harvest and rites of passage. In particular, basketry designs reflect aspects of Hopi religion and agriculture. For the Hopi, just as the basket's fibers are woven together, so are all the pieces of Hopi culture: none is unrelated to another. The symbolism and tradition in Hopi basketry designs link each unique handmade basket to other parts of Hopi life, past and present.

This particular basket has had fine care and dates from the late 1800's to the early 1900's.  It is virtually in pristine condition and ranks as a major find.  There is only some fading of the materials, but not much of that. 8-1/4" wide at the top and 6-1/4" high.
$4800.00
P

Questions?  Ask the Ferret!