Native American, Southwestern United States, Hopi or Navajo, ca. mid 20th century CE. A fascinating pair of carved-wood kachina dolls, hand-painted in hues of red, yellow, blue, green, and black on a white ground. The first presents as a standing avian figure wearing a dress with hands resting together at its waist. Fit on a cylindrical, flat-topped head, the curious doll's visage features a pointed beak and two huge, target-motif eyes, all flanked by a pair of wings adorned with red polka dots and black stripes. The second figure exhibits a tubular form as it rests its right arm at its side and extends its left arm across the chest. The highly stylized face displays an open mouth, a prominent nasal bridge, and teardrop-shaped eyes under a slanted brow, all topped by a lovely tuft of guinea fowl feathers. A pair of enormous, red-painted ears flank the head, showing annular drill holes, likely for suspending ornaments. Kachina figures are meant as gifts for children representing kachina dancers and the supernatural katsinam beings they embody. Size of largest: 4" W x 8" H (10.2 cm x 20.3 cm)

Plaza Dances may be either Mixed Katsina Dances (Soyohim) in which dancers representing all the different types of katsinas attend, or a dance that includes only katsinas of the same type. Regardless, in addition to bringing about rain and fertility, all katsinas have a distinct purpose. Dances may be performed to commemorate a special event such as recovery from an illness, the welcomed return of a son from the army, or a birthday. Nevertheless, these dances maintain a religion quality for the Hopis.

The Katsinam, supernatural beings who live in the high mountains of the San Francisco Peaks above traditional Hopi territory, speak to the Hopi through costumed dance and song. These dancers emerge from the round ceremonial kivas that are at the center of their communities, singly or in groups, and dance to the music of drums, rattles, and song. Katsina figures (katsina dolls, katsin-tihu), are made of cottonwood root to represent these supernatural beings. Cottonwood is culturally symbolic because the cottonwood tree, once abundant in traditional Hopi lands, grows where water flows - thus, looking across a landscape, lines of cottonwood trees denote a water source in the desert. After carving, the figures are painted all over with whitewash, made from kaolin clay, and then painted in brilliant colors. Originally these were done using yucca brushes. Many katsina are then decorated with other materials, like feathers, cloth, or fur. Katsina dolls are often given objects to hold which indicate their roles.

Provenance: private Glorieta, New Mexico, USA collection

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#163256

Some small chips to paint. Otherwise, intact and excellent with liberal remains to feathers and impressive remaining pigments.