Tukwinong (Cumulus Cloud) Hopi Katsina [SOLD]

The Cumulus Cloud Katsina is one of the Hopi Katsinum that is referred to as Chief Katsinum. Barton Wright has an excellent explanation of this category, as follows:
“Both Hopi and non-Hopi recognize the Chief Kachinas as the most clearly defined class of spirits, possibly even more so than the deities, as they have a closer affinity to the clans. A Chief Kachina is a supernatural that belongs solely to a particular clan or related clans. The kachinas can only be personated by a specific person within the kinship group and usually appears during the important nine-day ceremonies and never in the common plaza dances. There are, of course, exceptions to this generalization. The masks and costumes used to personify these kachinas may be refurbished from time to time but are never changed. They are considered sacrosanct and are kept by the clan matriarch to be guarded lest their potency be unwittingly wasted or the unwary be exposed to their power. They are cared for as persons and ‘fed’ prayer meal at regular intervals. Each has specific functions which in essence are clan obligations to the Hopi as a group.”

In the 1980s, I was purchasing katsina dolls from this carver. Although I did not have a signed contract for exclusive representation with him, I was pretty much his sold buyer. I imagine I purchased this doll from Nish and sold it to my client during that period. It is now for re-sale. It is in original excellent condition.