Native American, Southwestern United States, Navajo or Hopi, 20th to 21st century CE. This is a massive handmade wood, feather, leather, and fur Sun face kachina doll signed by the artist N. Yazzie and identifying mark "TT 400.828." The base is comprised of a cut tree trunk slab, stamped with "HANDCRAFTED BY / NAVAJO INDIANS / AM." The dancer is carved from cotton wood and balances on one foot, dynamic as he dances with one hand raised with a wood sun rattle, the other holding a feather. He is adorned in a painted leather waistcloth and a white rabbit fur arm and ankle bands, and hooded cape. The colorful sun disc set over his face- a yellow bottom half and the upper bisected into red and teal blue halves with black and yellow geometric details and abstract horizontal lines as the eyes; all encircled with black and white feathers. The sun kachina is known as Tawakatsina or Tawa (sometimes Dawa), and is the embodiment of the sun, and contributed to the earth's creation. Size: 12" L x 13" W x 26" H (30.5 cm x 33 cm x 66 cm)

Tawa is part of dances and rituals that celebrate the seasons, solstices, and the sun's movement across the sky, using horizon observations by priests and horizon calendars. These celebrations were in tune with the natural world and harmonized human activity- such as planting and harvests- which reaffirmed the natural order of life.

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. Katsina figures (katsina dolls, katsin-tihu), are made of cottonwood root to represent these supernatural beings. 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 katsina 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 Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#170529

Fraying and losses to feathers on head and rattle. Losses to fur pelt on figure's back and discoloration. Stable pressure fissures on kachina figure and wood base. Base is clearly marked and signed by artist. New feathers could easily be attached to fill in any gaps.