Hopi Second Mesa Basket in Turtle Form [SOLD]

A number of Second Mesa basket weavers have produced baskets with the design of a turtle as the main feature but rarely have they been made in three-dimensional form—most being flat—but this weaver made the basket with depth. 

For over 500 years, the Hopi have made coiled basketry in the same manner. It consists of a warp (foundation) of grasses and a weft (visible stitching) of yucca. All the material used come from wild plants, not domesticated. To achieve the different colors of yucca, the material must be gathered at different seasons of the year.

This plaque features a turtle as the central design. It is comprised of black, brown and yellow colors. The brown back of the turtle is highlighted with imbricated stitching in brown and the eyes and mouth in imbricated stitching in natural yellow yucca. A loop is woven onto the back to facilitate hanging the piece.

Condition:  The basket is circa 1970s and is in original excellent condition

Provenance: estate of former Albuquerque collector