Native American Hopi Made Butterfly Maiden Wicker Plaque

Description

Native American Hopi Made Butterfly Maiden Wicker Plaque by Dorleen Gashweseoma

This Hopi wicker plaque is given as a gift at ceremonies. These pieces are made by plaiting sumac, natural and dyed, to achieve many designs. In this case Dorleen used rabbitbrush because it has a much smaller shaft. Many of the Hopi wickers, coils, and sifters are used for social or ceremonial purposes. This piece is very unusual and is rarely offered to outsiders. These special creations are given to young women and they hang in their homes. The Butterfly Maiden (Palhik Mana), not a Katsina, but a woman dancer. The Butterfly Dance, a traditional social dance of the Hopi, is held in August after the gathering of the harvest. It is a thanksgiving dance for the harvest, chiefly for the corn crop and features dancing by young Hopi maidens wearing elaborate headdresses. This is a spectacular piece and we are honored that Dorleen, an award-winning basketmaker, made this for us.