Hopi Pueblo Mudhead Katsina of the Muyapony Style [SOLD]

For those familiar with what is called Mudhead Katsina, it is known that there are a variety of these differing slightly in facial features.  The Mudhead katsina here is one of the many, this one known as Muyapony.  There is only one other of this style with long appendages on the head and it was introduced from Zuni a hundred or more years ago.  The one here is the one originally from Hopi.

This carving has the typical features of the original Hopi katsina of this kind— three balls or nodules on top of the mask, from which it takes its name, Tatcioqto (Ball Head); long appendages on top of the mask; marks of sprouting beans on the cheeks and forehead of the mask, and brown body paint rather than the red used on other Mudhead katsinas.  The doll wears a black kilt and a scarf around its neck.

According to Barton Wright, the typical features of either of these are almost invariably mixed.  Both varieties, or rather a mixture of the two, may be seen on many occasions on the plaza as well as in kiva dances.  They are mostly jesters, some of their acts being very coarse and obscene. [Wright, 2004:77]

Underneath the dolls kilt are the symbols:  · ON — :  Which we were not able to identify as a language or signature.

Condition: very good condition with some paint abrasion

Provenance: this Hopi Pueblo Mudhead Katsina of the Muyapony Style is from the collection of a gentleman from California

Reference: Clowns of the Hopi: Tradition Keepers and Delight Makers by Barton Wright

TAGS: Hopi Pueblo, Katsina Dolls