Antique Hupa Hopper Basket

late 19th century

 5 1/2" x 15 1/2"

A fairly rare item in excellent condition.

The basketry hopper was placed or affixed to the top of a stone mortar bowl, sometime sealed to the stone bowls rim with pine pitch,  and was used to keep the flour from spilling out of the mortar from the heavy pounding of the pestle. The acorn meal was cooked in basketry bowl filled with water by placing and hot stones into the mush filled basket. As the stones cooled, they were removed, put back into the fire,  and more hot stones were added. They were stirred to keep them from burning the bottom of the basket.”