Hopi Pueblo All Wood Kuwan Heheya Katsina Doll by Loren Honyouti [SOLD]

Lauren Honyouti, the middle of five Honyouti brothers, gives us an excellent example of a Hopi Pueblo Kuwan Heheya Katsina.  As is traditional with the Honyouti carvers, this doll is an all-wood carving with minimal add-on elements.  It is probable that some of the items were add-on elements.

The doll is wearing a traditional Hopi embroidered kilt with a white rain sash around his waist and hanging off to his right side.  He has a fox tail suspended from the sash in the backside.  Feathers on top of his head and suspended from the back of his head were carved in excellent detail.  He wears a green neck ruff, also of wood, and traditional turquoise moccasins.

“The Kuwan Heheya or ‘Colorful’ Heheya is one of the group dancers often chosen for the Niman Kachina on First Mesa.  They are accompanied by Kachin Manas who dance in a separate line, kneel and rasp at certain parts of the ceremony. Again, the ceremony is to bring rain for the partly matured crops, and they are asked, as the Hemis Kachina is asked, to tell the supernaturals to bring rain.  The Kuwan Heheya are usually accompanied by two side dancers: one is the Heheya’s Uncle and the other is the Heheya Youth.” [Wright, 1973]  

“Lauren Honyouti, also known as Loren, started carving full time in the early 1980s after returning from the Phoenix area, where he had lived since high school, working for a local utility company.  He had come home for vacations and ceremonies and would carve with his youngest brother Ronald, watching and learning.  Finally, after encouragement from family members and others, he decided to move back home.  Lauren is also now involved with family and community ceremonial activities.” [Schaaf, 2008:130]

Lauren has won awards at the Heard Museum, Museum of Northern Arizona, and Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial.  His work is exhibited at numerous galleries in Arizona and New Mexico.

Condition: this Hopi Pueblo All Wood Kuwan Heheya Katsina Doll by Loren Honyouti is in original condition

Provenance: from the collection of a resident of Seattle, Washington

Reference:  Wright, Barton. Kachinas a Hopi Artist’s Documentary, 1973

Relative Links:  Hopi Pueblo, Lauren Honyouti, Ronald Honyouti, katsina dolls, Brian Honyouti