Hopi Pueblo Hilili Katsina Doll [SOLD]

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Henry P. Shelton (1929- ) Ho-ya’oma - Arrow Carrying

Henry Shelton, who’s Hopi name is Ho-ya’oma, translated to Arrow Carrying, is from the village of Oraibi on Third Mesa on the Hopi Reservation.  His father was Peter Shelton, Sr. and his brother is Peter Shelton, Jr. both of whom were carvers of katsina dolls. Henry attended the Santa Fe Indian School from 1944 to 1949.  His awards and exhibitions are too numerous to mention here.  He devoted much of his life to creating katsina dolls, paintings, and sculptures. He is in collections of the Smithsonian, Museum of Northern Arizona, Kansas State Historical Society, Denver Art Museum, Heard Museum and many private collections.  His work is eagerly collected.

 

In the summer of 1985, Shelton traveled to London, England.  He was invited by the British American Arts Association to demonstrate at the American Festival hosted by the Museum of Mankind. 

 

This is a Hilili Katsina doll made by Henry Shelton, most likely in the 1950s, a judgment based on the style of paints used.  It is an exceptional carving in the traditional style of Shelton.  The doll is signed with the carver’s name.

 

“Hilili is apparently a kachina that has made its way from Acoma or Laguna by a process of osmosis.  In these pueblos, he is known as Heleleka.  By the time he reached the Hopis prior to the turn of the century, his name had changed to Hilili, ‘from the call that he makes.’  His first appearance was among the Hopi of First Mesa and the other two mesas made known their disapproval by calling this a witch or Powak Kachina.  However, his popularity as a guard kachina and admiration for his rapid dance has increased.  Now he is found on all the mesas in a great variety of forms.  He appears very frequently in the Powamu and in the Night Dances.” Wright, 1973

 

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Oregon

Reference: Kachinas: a Hopi Artist’s Documentary by Barton Wright with paintings by Cliff Bahnimptewa.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery.

close up view

Henry P. Shelton (1929- ) Ho-ya’oma - Arrow Carrying
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