Hopi Third Mesa Wicker Plaque of Kahaila Katsina [R]

The earliest collected example of wicker plaques with katsina imagery was by Matilda Coxe Stevenson in 1888; however a photograph identified to 1884 shows a plaque with a katsina image hanging on the wall of trader Thomas Keam's home. It is probably this outside influence by Keam or other non-Hopi that resulted in katsina imagery being placed on wicker basketry. Hopi women were traditionalists and probably would not have taken that step without being requested to do so.

Kahaila Katsina is a Hunter Katsina and is believed to have migrated to Hopi from the New Mexico Rio Grande Pueblos.  His name is Keresan and he is sometimes referred to as the "eagle feathers erect man," because of the feathers on his head.

We were not able to identify the artist of this basketry plaque.  The only indication was a tag with the name Selestewa on it.  So, we were not able to determine the full name of the artist.

Condition: original condition

Provenance: from the collection of an Arizona resident

Recommended Reading; Hopi Basket Weaving: Artistry in Natural Fibers by Helga Teiwes