**Originally Listed At $400**

Native American, Southwest, New Mexico or Arizona, Hopi peoples, 20th century. A hand-carved and hand-painted Hopi chili pepper kachina known as Sikya Heheya , with soft rabbit fur around his body and carved red chili peppers emerging from the fur atop his head. He also wears a hide belt that is adorned by circular appliques, colorful leg coverings, red yarn tied around his wrists, and boots. Tsil's visage presents with striking zigzag motifs, a T-shaped pattern running from temples to his circular toothy mouth, and large red ears. Sikya or Yellow Heheyais among the supernatural spirits impersonated by Hopi ceremonial dancers and runners during competitive foot races. Size: 10.125" H (25.7 cm)

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), made of cottonwood root, were created to represent them. 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 this was done using yucca brushes. Many of them are then decorated with other materials, like feathers, cloth, or fur. Katsina dolls are often given objects to hold which indicate their roles. Kachina dolls are not toys, but are given to young girls, representations of benevolent spirit beings.

Please note this item falls under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and is not eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects are only eligible to ship within the United States.

Provenance: Private Louisville, Colorado, USA collection, purchased in the 1970s

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#173844

Minor surface scuffs/abrasions. Otherwise excellent with a vivid painted decorative program and beautiful rabbit fur. There is a looped hook on the verso for displaying it.