Hopi Wicker Trays
Weaving Tradition and Spirit

Chimayo Trading Staff Report | June 2025

On the sun-baked mesas of northeastern Arizona, the Hopi people have crafted wicker trays for centuries, weaving not just materials but stories, spirituality, and community into every piece. Known as the “peaceful people” or Hopituh Shi-nu-mu, the Hopi reside in 12 villages across First, Second, and Third Mesas on Black Mesa, with Third Mesa being the heart of wicker basketry. These vibrant trays, often called plaques or shallow baskets, are more than functional objects—they are sacred symbols of Hopi life, used in ceremonies, daily tasks, and as cherished art forms.

Today we present a recent aquisition—a collection of colorful pictorial Hopi wicker basket trays, most are from the 1930s-1950s and are available online at chimayotrading.com, or in person at the Chimayo Trading Del Norte Gallery located in the historic Saint Francis Church Plaza, Ranchos de Taos, NM.

“Shalako Kachina”, 13″ x 1″

Hopi wicker trays are handwoven by women of Third Mesa villages, such as Old Oraibi, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in North America, dating back to around 1150 CE. The weavers use natural materials like suuvi (sumac), sivaapi (rabbit brush), and occasionally Si-wi branches for the warp, with a weft of rabbit brush and a rim bound in yucca leaves.

“Crow Mother Kachina”, 13″ x 1

The trays’ vivid colors—black, blue, red-brown, yellow, green, white, and pink—come from natural dyes. Designs are rich with meaning, depicting natural elements like clouds, rainbows, and stars; animals such as birds, butterflies, and snakes; and spiritual figures like Kachinas, the spirit beings central to Hopi cosmology. Kachina figures are stylized, two-dimensional designs woven into the basket’s surface using dyed rabbit brush, sumac, and yucca. These plaques are distinct from the coiled baskets of Second Mesa and are known for their open, textured weave and vivid colors—black, blue, red-brown, yellow, green, white, and pink—derived from natural dyes.

“Butterfly” by Ruth Lomayastewa, 15″ x 1.5

Wicker trays serve both practical and ceremonial purposes. In daily life, they carry piki, a paper-thin bread made from blue cornmeal, or sift parched corn during harvest preparations. In ceremonies, they are essential in rites of passage, such as weddings, where the bride’s family weaves plaques to repay the groom’s family for crafting her wedding robes. Kachina plaques may be woven by the bride’s family as part of the exchange for the groom’s family’s wedding robes, with the designs invoking blessings for fertility, rain, or harmony.

“Eagles” by Flora Lomakema, 11.5″ x 1

The inclusion of Kachina figures elevates the trays’ value, both spiritually and economically. Because Kachinas are sacred, their depiction requires knowledge and respect, often reserved for experienced weavers. These trays are highly prized by collectors and can fetch higher prices than those with simpler designs like spider webs or sunflowers. Kachina figures on Hopi wicker trays are vibrant, sacred expressions of Hopi spirituality, woven with skill and reverence. They connect the physical and spiritual worlds, embodying the Kachinas’ power to bring rain, harmony, and cultural continuity to the Hopi people.

“Turtle”, 11.5″ x 1″

The artistry of Hopi wicker trays has earned them global recognition. Wicker trays from Third Mesa are prized for their open, textured weave and vibrant aesthetics. Named patterns, such as Sunflower, Wedding Basket, and Dragonfly, tell specific stories, while Kachina plaques fetch higher prices for their spiritual significance.

“Kachina”, 13″ x 1

Despite their beauty, Hopi wicker trays remain deeply tied to tradition. Weaving is a sacred act, passed down through matrilineal lines, and each tray embodies the weaver’s status. This continuity reflects the Hopi’s resilience in preserving their culture against centuries of external pressures. Hopi Wicker Plaques and Baskets are “the last ethnographic baskets being made in Native America,” a testament to the Hopi’s enduring artistry and cultural vitality.

“Gaan Dancer” (Mountain Spirit) Kachina, 12″ x 1″

“Koshare Kachina” by Raynalda Pavinyama, 13.5″ x 1″

“Eagle”, 12.5″ x 1.5″

“Koshare Kachina” by Idella Kaursgowva, 1.5″ x 1″

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