Zuni Pueblo Nawisho, Tickler Katsina Doll [SOLD]

This Nawisho Katsina doll is from Zuni Pueblo and was made in the mid-twentieth century.  It is not signed with the name of the maker, most likely because it is a true representation of the katsina and many carvers do not acknowledge having made true representations.  The katsina is a form of Corn Katsina and was introduced to Zuni from Laguna Pueblo around 1904.  

The Nawisho Tickler Katsina comes in either a black figure with white rings on the face and body or the reverse with black rings on a white body, as in this carving.  It is likely that this Zuni Katsina was the influence for the Hopi Spotted Corn Katsina.

The dance is known as the Nawish Dance or Corn Dance and is a ceremonial that exists in virtually every pueblo.  The Nawisho Katsina appearance may vary but the headdress does not. There are always four turkey wing feathers set on top of the head.

The legend of how this headdress came to be is told in a story about the Foolish Grandchild, who crept out at night to hunt turkeys while others slept.  He managed to shoot some turkeys each of four nights but did not bring them back because he knew he was not supposed to hunt at night. When discovered, he was asked to bring the turkeys he had shot but when he went to get them they were destroyed and only a few small wing feathers remained.  He was sternly lectured on the value of feathers to the kachinas. As punishment, he was stripped of the beautiful feathers he was wearing and given four turkey feathers to wear as a remembrance of his foolish act.

Condition: this Zuni Pueblo Nawisho, Tickler Katsina Doll is in very good condition

Provenance: from an estate in Taos, New Mexico

Reference: Kachinas of the Zuni by Barton Wright with Original Paintings by Duane Dishta

Relative Links: Zuni Kachina Doll, Zuni Pueblo, Kachina Doll