Mixed Media
Ogre Kachina – There are two main varieties. The Black Ogre (Nata-aska) and The White Ogre (Wiharu). Children are taught that the Ogre will get them if they are not good.
Navajo Kachina carver Henry Sloan and his family had a dedicated collector of their dolls in the 1980's. We recently received many Katsina from the collector to put out on the market. Featured is the Snake Dancer-Long closed to outside observers, this ceremony gives us a rare glimpse into the spectacle that is the Snake Dance. While not technically a kachina, these figures are highly regarded religious figures. The social dancers who used to appear in mid-August at several of the villages. During the dance performance the Snake priests, accompanied by the Antelope priests, dance with live rattlesnakes and/or bull snakes in their mouths. The live snakes are referred to by the priests as their 'elder brothers. This dance has been closed to non-Indians since 1986. Excerts from: - Ricks, J. Brent, et al., Kachinas: Spirit Beings of the Hopi (114)
Mudhead also known as "Koyemsi" is a clown who may be seen in most Hopi ceremonies. Mudhead Kachinas drum, dance, play games with the audience, and may act as announcers for events. They often give prizes or rewards for the races and guessing games they organize. The term "mudhead" comes from their masks which have mud applied to them. Koyemsi are usually the ones that play games with the audience to the accompaniment of rollicking tunes. These games are generally guessing games or simple attempts to balance objects of performances of some common act and the rewards are prizes of food or clothing. These kachinas appear in almost every Hopi dance.
Hemis Kachina: The Hopi have several borrowed kachinas, the Hemis Kachina, or Jemez Kachina, is one of them. The Hemis Kachina is most often used for the Home-Going Ceremony when the kachinas leave the Mesas for six months. It is one of the most appropriate kachinas for this farewell, as it is the first kachina to bring mature corn to the people, indicating that the corn crop is assured. The bottom is signed RRL "First Wolf" 5/84. The figure is carved from a solid piece of wood and decorated with feathers, yarn, leather, bells assorted stones and beads.
Sunface: The Sunface Kachina represent the spirit of the Sun. This leader of ceremonies brings warmth, shelter for the old, a bright future, and playfulness for the young. Also brings good luck, and happiness. This doll is coming to us from a private collection it dates from around the 1970's. Measures 12 inch tall.
Deer Kachina: The Deer Kachina is much like all game animals and dances to bring more of his kind. The staff that is held in both hands represents the front legs of the Deer. Deer provided food and skins for clothing and they are seen in many petroglyphs as well as fetishes used by shaman in many tribes.
"Eototo and Aholi" are sold as a set. Eototo is the chief of all kachinas and knows all of the ceremonies. He is the spiritual counterpart of the village chief and as such is called "father" of all the kachinas. He controls the seasons and is sometimes called the husband of Hahai-i Wuhti. During the Powamu or Bean Dance on Third Mesa, he conducts an elaborate ceremony with his lieutenant, Aholi. He draws cloud symbols in corn flower on the ground pointing into the village. Aholi places his ceremonial staff on these and roars out his call. Then they both proceed onward toward the village. This is designed to draw the clouds and moisture into the pueblo. Eototo "goes to the north end of the kiva, rubs a handful of sacred meal to the north side of the hatchway and then pours a little water into the kiva, which is caught up in a bowl by a man standing on a ladder." This offering to the north is then repeated to the other three cardinal directions. Water and the fruitfulness of the earth are thus what his appearance at Powamu promises to the Hopi.
A wonderful oil wash painting by Albert Dreher with his signature images of the moon and Anasazi style dwellings. This piece is 17 inches by 17 inches, 20 inches square with the metal frame. The item on the bottom left is hand-made paper with an embossed pottery design.
Warrior or Orge this large wood craving could be called a sculpture or a Katchina. Standing 26 inches tall on a wooden base painted with vibrant paints and decorated with fur, feather, and hair. This piece came with a large collection of other Katsinas and unusual carvings and dolls, that is available on a secondary market.
