Hopi Second Mesa Basket with Concentric Circles [SOLD]

Coiled basketry of this type is made exclusively in Second Mesa villages on the Hopi Reservation. Each stitch of a coil is interlocked into the adjoining stitch of the previous coil. An awl is used to facilitate this. This basket probably took the weaver more than a month to complete the weaving process alone, not counting the months of gathering materials, drying the yucca leaves, and then splitting them to a thin, consistent width, dying some of them, and preparing the grass for the foundation.  I have watched a number of women at Second Mesa villages make baskets over the years, and I am in awe of their patience and fortitude.

This plaque features a central design of radiating lines surrounded by rows of dyed yucca with the outer rows consisting of black stepped designs contained by a row of black.  The basket is very shallow but does have some concavity.  There is a loop woven into the back to facilitate hanging.

Condition: The basket has a wonderfully rich patina indicating that it does have some age.  It is in excellent condition.   There is only a single missing stitch at the rim.

Provenance: estate of former Albuquerque collector