Zuni Pueblo Nahalisho Itsopong Ko’ko, Double Faced Katsina Doll c. 1950 [SOLD]

Like many Zuni katsinas, this Nahalisha Itsopona is well adorned. His mask has a horizontal figure "8" shape, with the right side gray and the left yellow, around rectangular eyes. He has a tube mouth, which is almost hidden behind the thick green ruff. A flower blossom appears on his left ear. His body paint is yellow across the shoulders, red throughout the arms and thorax, and white on the legs. He wears a traditional bandolier, sash, and kilt. Somewhat unusual are the turquoise cabs on his waist, as if he is wearing a concha belt, as well as the colored stones adorning his neck. This piece dates to the 1950s. He is often called Double Faced Katsina. This carving has articulating arms as often seen on Zuni carvings.

This Nahalisho Itsopong Katsina Doll is another of the Zuni Corn Katsinas. He appears in the Nawish Dance, a ceremony introduced to Zuni from Laguna Pueblo around 1904. There are several Corn Dancer katsinas participating in this dance. The dance is accompanied by a drummer and a choir of society men who are dressed like the drummer.

What is a Kachina?

Condition: good condition with broken left foot

Provenance: this Zuni Pueblo Nahalisho Itsopong Ko'ko, Double Faced Katsina Doll c. 1950 is originally from the estate of Al Packard, Santa Fe merchant. Sold to the current owner by Adobe Gallery in 2008.

Reference: Wright, Barton. Kachinas of the Zuni, with Original Paintings by Duane Dishta, Northland Press, Flagstaff, 1985.

TAGS: Zuni Pueblo, Kachina-Katsina Dolls