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Kachina doll
New Mexico
Salimopia Katsina – Red warrior Kachina doll
Zuni
Mid 20th century
Carved wood, pigments, fabric, wool and feathers
Height: 7 ½ in. – 19 cm
Provenance
Field collected by Serge Holtz in the 1960s-1970s
Ex collection Hervé Poulain, Paris
Sold
Kachina dolls (or katsinam) represent spirits or gods from the pantheon of the Pueblo peoples in the American Southwest. Given to children, kachina dolls constituted a pedagogical tool allowing them to familiarize themselves with the spiritual world and perpetuating knowledge of the founding myths on which their society was based.
This Zuni doll is a representation of Salimopia (Salimboya / Salimopaiya), the Zuni Warrior. Salimopia is one of the Chief Kachinas of the Zunis. He functions as guards around the more sacred kachinas.
There are six different types of Salimopia kachinas, one for each of the Zuni cardinal points, depending on the mains colors of their costumes.
During the ceremonies, Salimopia dancers came barefoot with evergreen foliage about their ankles and crow feathers around their necks. Their action was very fast, dashing from one point to another. For this reason the individuals who impersonated these kachinas were always the very young men.
The main attribute of the dancer was a branch of yucca, used to strike the young initiates. Salimopia appeared during night dances that notably took place in the kiva.
This Zuni doll is a representation of Salimopia (Salimboya / Salimopaiya), the Zuni Warrior. Salimopia is one of the Chief Kachinas of the Zunis. He functions as guards around the more sacred kachinas.
There are six different types of Salimopia kachinas, one for each of the Zuni cardinal points, depending on the mains colors of their costumes.
During the ceremonies, Salimopia dancers came barefoot with evergreen foliage about their ankles and crow feathers around their necks. Their action was very fast, dashing from one point to another. For this reason the individuals who impersonated these kachinas were always the very young men.
The main attribute of the dancer was a branch of yucca, used to strike the young initiates. Salimopia appeared during night dances that notably took place in the kiva.
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