Native American Indian, Southwest, Hopi, mid-20th century CE. A splendid and sizeable hand-carved wooden Velvet Shirt or Navan katsina/kachina wearing a black felt tunic and yellow, blue, and purple ribbons draped over his shoulders, as well as a knee-length skirt and high boots. Navan katsinas often sing prayers for rain to sustain life and represent the blooming of plant life, as shown by the flowers on his head. Hand-painted in hues of green, red, yellow, black, and white, the fascinating figure stands with slightly bent legs and bends both arms at the elbows, grasping a rattle or bell in his right hand and a bow in his left. His cylindrical head features an extending tubular noes, abstract eyes, and thick, straight brows, all flanked by a pair of huge, tab-shaped ears. A band of 3 flowers adorns the top of his head, capped by a lovely plumed headdress. Kachina figures are meant as gifts for children representing kachina dancers and the supernatural katsinam beings they embody. Size: 8" W x 23.25" H (20.3 cm x 59.1 cm)

Plaza Dances may be either Mixed Katsina Dances (Soyohim) in which dancers representing all the different types of katsinas attend, or a dance that includes only katsinas of the same type. Regardless, in addition to bringing about rain and fertility, all katsinas have a distinct purpose. Dances may be performed to commemorate a special event such as recovery from an illness, the welcomed return of a son from the army, or a birthday. Nevertheless, these dances maintain a religion quality for the Hopis.

The Katsinam, supernatural beings who live in the high mountains of the San Francisco Peaks above traditional Hopi territory, speak to the Hopi through costumed dance and song. These dancers emerge from the round ceremonial kivas that are at the center of their communities, singly or in groups, and dance to the music of drums, rattles, and song. In imitation and representation of them are Katsina figures (katsina dolls, katsin-tihu), made of cottonwood root. Cottonwood is culturally symbolic because the cottonwood tree, once abundant in traditional Hopi lands, grows where water flows - thus, looking across a landscape, lines of cottonwood trees denote a water source in the desert. After carving, the figures are painted all over with whitewash, made from kaolin clay, and then painted in brilliant colors. Originally these were done using yucca brushes. Many of them are then decorated with other materials, like feathers, cloth, or fur. Katsina dolls are often given objects to hold which indicate their roles.

Provenance: private Colgate, Wisconsin, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s to 1990s

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#164052

Minor chip to proper left side of chin. Bow repaired from at least 3 pieces with break lines visible. Some minor losses to paint in areas. Some light fraying to ribbons and a few expected nicks. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice pigments.