Second Mesa Coiled Plaque (poota) with Crow Mother Image [SOLD]

Second Mesa villages are Shungopavi, Mishongnovi, and Sipaulovi. It is from these three villages that coiled basketry comes.  The foundation material is galletta grass, and the weft material is split yucca leaves.  The yucca is wrapped around the grass foundation and stitched into the previous coil.  As the basket grows in size, more grass is added, which is then wrapped with yucca strips.

This basket is approximately 100 years ago and is believed to represent the Crow Mother Katsina.  The three coils of black represent the wings of the crow, the center is the face of the katsina, and the dressed body and arms stretch out below.

“Over 100 years ago, Sitak-pu wove the first Katsina design on a basket.  This fact was confirmed by Joyce Saufkie and her aunt Mollie Talas.  Sitak-pu was unique in being one of the few male basket weavers and the first documented in Hopi history.  He is remembered also for making clay pipes for smoking tobacco.  He was the uncle of the famous Hopi jeweler, Victor Coochwytewa. . . . He wove some of the oldest coiled Hopi baskets with Katsina designs.” [Schaaf, 2006:76] Sitk-pu was of the Water Clan and was active in the late 19th- and early-20th centuries.  He was from the village of Shungopavi.

It is not known whether this is a basket by Sitak-pu or not.  It does date to the 1920s period.  Its age is evident, undoubtedly, but the overall look of the piece is impressive and appealing.  It looks and feels substantial, which will remind the viewer of the countless hours devoted to its creation.

Condition: good condition with minor stitch loss and minor color fading.

Provenance: this Second Mesa Coiled Plaque (poota) with Crow Mother Image is from the large collection of a gentleman from California

Recommended Reading: AMERICAN INDIAN BASKETS I 1,500 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

Relative Links: Southwest Indian Basketry, Hopi Pueblo, Hopituh Shi-nu-mu