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Which basket designs have symbolic meanings in Hopi art?
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Basketry
Overview of basketry on Madeira Island, Portugal.
In Hopi basketry, geometric and stylized designs are often used to represent natural or supernatural elements. Specifically, these motifs include depictions of kachina (deified ancestral spirits), clouds, and rainbows.1
It is important to note, however, that while these motifs are given specific names, this does not always mean they carry deep symbolic significance or express religious ideas in every instance. The geometric nature of these designs is often a result of the technical limitations and requirements inherent in the construction of basketry, which tends to geometrize motifs regardless of their intended meaning.12