Hopi Laqan (Squirrel) Katsina Doll [SOLD]

For two thousand years, the Hopi people have endured a desert life upon which they depend on water for their daily needs and for their plants.  Over this time, they have developed a system whereby they can pretty accurately forecast the weather but that is not always sufficient for their needs.  In order to insure delivery of water when needed, they developed a pattern whereby they ask for help from the supernatural forces that they believe control nature.

The supernatural forces are the Katsinas, which are ancestral beings.  To achieve from the Katsina spiritual beings those things the Hopi need or desire, they perform elaborate ceremonies.  They do not ask, however, for something without giving something in return.  The Katsina spiritual beings desire prayer feathers, corn pollen and various rituals, so the Hopi give these in return for rain.

Basically, every Katsina is a source of rain as a primary function; however, each Katsina also has other functions as well.  Hunt animal katsinas are used to ask for assistance in a good hunt, as an example.  The Eagle Katsina is used to deliver prayers to the supernatural beings because it is believed the eagle can pass the barrier between this world and the next.

According to Barton Wright, the Squirrel Katsina with feather ears, such as this one presented here, is from Second Mesa.  “During the Kiva Dances in winter he is supposed to challenge any woman to take from him anything that she thinks worth having.”  He also appears in the Powamu (Bean Dance) or in the plaza dances in large numbers.

Based on the mineral paints used on this carving, it is estimated that it dates to pre-World War II.  It is possible that the red paint is watercolor but that was available in the 1940s as well.  The carving is really in very good condition.  A small chip is missing at the toe of the left foot and the heel of the right foot.  The right foot has been broken off at the front and glued back on.  These are minor compared to the age of the doll.  Of course, most of the feathers are missing but they would have probably been illegal according to Federal regulations and would have had to be removed anyway.  There is some abrasion of the paint but that is natural with mineral paints.

Provenance: from a prominent Santa Fe collector