Henry Seeni


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Henry Seeni, Hopi Pueblo, has been known also by the name Henry Seemi.  He is known for carving puppet-style katsina dolls, primarily Koshari and Mudheads.  A figurine is carved and jointed in the manner of a puppet and then strung on crossed strings like a common European jumping toy.  When the strings are pulled apart and relaxed the doll leaps and cavorts about.

According to Barton Wright, the first individual to produce this type of doll among the Hopi appears to have been a Hopi Pueblo First Mesa man named Benson (Ben) Seeni (1931-1999).

Reference: Hopi Kachinas: The Complete Guide to Collecting Kachina Dolls by Barton Wright.

 

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