Snakes
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)
Rattlesnake carved from Mother of Pearl shell by Zuni carver Paulette Quam. The rattle is up as the snake moves across the ground, he measures 2 3/4 inches.
Black marble snake is carved on the top with a zig zag pattern and it has turquoise inlaid eyes. The snake symbolized life, death and rebirth or transformation. The carving on the back of this snake represents lightning and the bringing of rain.
Charolite carved Rattle Snake has jet inlaid eyes. Measuring 2 inches long, it has a grid pattern carved in it's back. Snake totem is generally transformation, because it can shed it's old skin and start a new.
14Kt gold and emeralds inset in this traditional pueblo design that represents transformation and water. The water serpent is often seen on the pottery of the Pueblo artisans. A terrific value on this set, considering the current price of gold.
Ammonite is natural fossil that lends its self perfectly to the image of a curled up rattlesnake. The snake is said to have the powers of transformation. Navajo carver Roy Davis' animals always have inlaid jet eyes.
This Hopi style belt buckle in the overlay technique, shows 2 Water serpents on the side of a Corn plant.
