Lot 45
Native American, Southwestern USA, Arizona and New Mexico, Hopi Peoples, ca. 1950s CE. A striking Black Ogre or Nataska (alsp Nata 'aska) kachina (katsina) doll, hand carved from wood, nicely painted, embellished with a brown rabbit fur collar, draped with white deer hide, and holding attributes. Nataska is one of the family of ogre kachinas who guard Soyok Wuhtl (Monster Woman) and also see to it that children behave well. Nataska has a large snout, carries a knife in one hand and a hunting bow in the other. Size: 5.7" W x 12.75" H (14.5 cm x 32.4 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), traditionally made of cottonwood root, are 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 these were 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.
Provenance: ex private Ventura County, California, USA collection
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#153942
- Condition: Loss to part of headdress, most notable on the back and top of the head. Small stain on back of cape. Deposits on surface with some of the paint on the hands slightly worn. Overall in fine condition.
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