Unidentified Hopi Cottonwood Katsina Doll from the Fred Harvey Collection [SOLD]

C4384-18-kachina.jpg

+ Add to my watchlist Forward to Friend


Once Known Native American Carver

This katsina doll carving appears to be a legitimate Hopi carving but does not represent a known Hopi katsina.  It was perhaps made and painted to look authentic but with markings that are not accurate.  Some older katsina doll carvers deliberately made changes to dolls they were making for sale so that they would not be compromising their religious beliefs by releasing to non-Hopi buyers a true ceremonial katsina doll.  This is known to have been the case with some of the older men who had strong Hopi beliefs.  

The tableta-style ears, the string sun visor, the two protruding poles on the head and the triangular rain clouds on the cheeks are not related to a single katsina. He is mounted on a square black wood platform of the style used by the Fred Harvey Company on many of its katsina dolls.  There are no other identifying markings to indicate a Fred Harvey provenance, however the doll is part of the collection with that provenance.

Relative Links: Kachina – Katsina DollHopi PuebloFred Harvey Company

Close up view of this Katsina doll carving.

Once Known Native American Carver
C4384-18-kachina.jpgC4384-18-large.jpg Click on image to view larger.