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This basket was collected by the owner's great-great Uncle Thompson. He was an Indian Commissioner in the Midwest during this period and spent time travelling in the Southwest.
This basket is a fairly large example of Hopi coil basketry trays from Second Mesa. There are a number of stitches missing, especially along the rim. The interest in this basket is the age, provenance and design.
Hopi coil baskets are typically manufactured on Second Mesa. Native plants and natural dyes are a hallmark of fine Hopi coil basketry. The weaving materials consist of galetta grass and yucca with yucca always being used for the weft material. The white yucca (now cream colored in this basket) comes from the core of the plant while the yellow coloration comes from partially bleached yucca leaves. The black comes from sunflower seed, pinon gum, ocher or sumac and the red and red-browns from one of several types of small grasses.
